United  Brethren 
In  Christ 


A  History 
of  the 
Won]a.n  *  s  M  i  s  s  i  ona  ry 
Association 


BX^878 
.76.A66 


^^. 


tihvavy  of  trhe  Cheolojicd  ^emmarjo 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.    LeFevre 
.1  (o.  i\<oio 


•AN  'asriDCjAs 

•3U|  soya  aa  jnAVS 

Aq  pajr430j  luo/^ 

>i3aNia  laiHdvwd 
INnOWOlOHd 


A  HISTORY 


FEB  11  1953  ^ 


^fi/OAl 


Woman'sMissionaiy  Association 


UmTED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST, 


"The  L,ord  giveth  the  word:  the  women  that  publish  the  tidings  are  a 
great  host." — Psalm  68:  ii,  Revised  Version. 


DAYTON,  OHIO: 

United  Brethren  Publishing  House. 

1894. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/historyofwomansmOOunit 


ROFUS  H.  LEFEVER 


HISTORY 

OF    THE 

"Won^ai^'s  Mi55ioi2ar\/]  Associatioi^. 


' '  The  Ivord  giveth  the  word :  the  women  that  publish  the  tidings  are  a 
great  hoist. "     (Psalm  68  :  ii,  Revised  Version.) 

Whether  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel  meant  to  prophesy,  or 
referred  to  the  custom  of  the  women  proclaiming  glad  tidings 
after  the  victory,  we  live  in  a  time  when  the  words  are  liter- 
ally true.  The  women  of  Christendom  are  awake  and  organ- 
ized, sending  missionaries  to  every  portion  of  the  globe.  We 
are  living  in  the  times  which  the  Revelator  saw,  when  he 
said,  "I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having 
the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the 
earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  peo- 
ple." The  women,  by  their  offerings,  prayers,  and  service,  are 
giving  wings  to  the  angel.  There  are  six  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  messengers  from  Protestant  churches  now 
preaching  the  everlasting  gospel  in  twenty  times  as  many 
languages  as  were  spoken  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  There  are 
besides  these  many  thousands,  of  native  converts  preaching 
and  teaching  the  Word.  In  the  last  twenty  years,  in  a  special 
sense,  God  has  been  pleased  to  call  and  make  use  of  the 
women  of  Christian  lands.  Every  denomination  in  the 
United  States  has  now  one  or  more  woman's  boards. 

How  shall  we  account  for  this  general  movement  of  Chris- 
tian women  in  a  new  line,  bringing  heavy  responsibility,  re- 
quiring self-denial  and  the  service  of  body  and  mind  ?     It  was 


6  woman's  missionary  association. 

born  from  above.  The  thought  was  Divine.  It  came  in  the 
fullness  of  time.  In  every  mission  field  there  was  an  imper- 
ative need  for  the  active  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  women 
at  home.  Missionaries  were  sent  home  to  tell  the  story 
of  the  degradation,  misery,  and  darkness  of  women  with- 
out the  gospel,  and  to  appeal  to  the  love  and  devotion  of 
honored  Christian  women  to  consecrate  themselves  to  their 
elevation.  In  our  country  these  appeals  met  with  a  ready  re- 
sponse. God  by  his  providence  had  during  the  Civil  War 
developed  the  capacity  and  energies  of  the  women  in  the 
great  activities  of  the  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commission. 
In  every  town  and  village  the  women  had  gathered  to  furnish, 
with  loving  hearts,  supplies  for  the  "soldier  boys."  Theso 
trying  times  called  wonien  from  the  selfishness  and  frivolities; 
of  life,  and  discarding  the  conventionalities  of  society,  the}' 
responded  to  the  call  of  distress,  and  became  experts  in  organ  - 
izing  and  administering  on  a  large  scale.  Besides  this  general 
preparation  for  the  work,  in  every  church  there  were  a  fevr 
hearts  who  were  longing  for  more  active  service,  and  Avitli 
prayer  and  supplication  were  seeking  direction.  The  twc; 
Congregational  Avomen  who  met  to  pray  weekly  for  eight 
months,  before  issuing  a  call  to  organize  a  woman's  board, 
has  a  parallel  in  the  beginning  of  our  work. 

THE    BEGINNING. 

In  a  little  room  a  few  miles  north  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Miss 
Lizzie  Hoffman  (now  Mrs.  Derrickson)  spent  the  night  in 
prayer.  In  response  to  earnest  solicitation,  she  has  given  the 
following  account  of  her  experience  : 

"The  beginning  of  my  call  to  missionary  work  was  a  desire  for  a  deeper 
work  of  grace  in  my  own  heart.  I  felt  that  there  were  joys  in  the  divine  life 
and  attainments  through  grace  that  I  was  not  possessor  of,  as  well  as  duties 
to  perform  for  which  I  was  too  weak.  There  was  a  burden  on  my  heart.  I 
took  it  to  our  Burden-Bearer  in  prayer,  and  the  answer  was  a  question,  'Are 
you  willing  to  go  to  Africa?  '  I  felt  unqualified.  The  Lord's  answer  to  Mo- 
ses came.  Thus  I  labored  on  for,  I  think,  over  one  year.  I  sometimes  felt 
as  if  I  could  not  endure  the  weight.  One  evening  I  took  my  Bible,  my 
best  instrudlor,  and  read  and  prayed  in  my  little  room,  determined  to  con- 


THE    BEGINNING.  / 

quer  or  die  in  the  attempt;  resolved  to  wrestle  and  pray  till  light  would 
dawn  upon  my  soul.  It  was  near  the  dawn  of  day  when  the  Angel  of  the 
I,ord  rolled  the  burden  ofif  my  poor  heart.  Abraham  was  not  required  to  slay 
Isaac  —  only  to  become  willing.  I  said  calmly  and  peacefully,  'Lord,  use  me 
as  seemeth  to  thee  good.'  Soon  there  was  a  prompting  in  my  heart  that  the 
women  of  our  Church  should  be  organized  for  adlive  and  special  work  for 
missions.  The  duty  became  imperative.  I  revealed  the  fadl  to  Father  John 
Kemp.  He  at  once  became  interested,  and  visited  the  most  acftive  workers  in 
the  First  Church  at  Dayton,  as  well  as  in  Summit  Street  Church,  and  prayed 
and  planned  until  he  succeeded  in  calling  the  meeting  for  the  organization 
of  the  women  of  Miami  Conference." 

Prominent  men  and  women  of  the  two  churches  met  at 
Summit  Street  Church,  and  spent  a  day  and  an  evening  in 
consultation.  A  woman's  organization  was  effected  for  Miami 
Conference,  May  9,  1872.  The  following  preamble  to  the  con- 
stitution then  adopted  is  of  interest : 

"  Believing  that  the  promulgation  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  through- 
out the  world  depends  upon  the  success  of  Christian  missions,  and  that  the 
responsibility  of  this  success  devolves  upon  all  Christians,  we  therefore 
do,  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  our  risen  I,ord  and  Savior,  '  Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature, '  in  convention  assem- 
bled at  the  United  Brethren  Summit  Street  Church,  in  the  city  of  Dayton,  on 
the  9th  day  of  May,  1872,  pursuant  to  proper  notice  given  through  the 
Religions  Telescope,  hereby,  in  the  name  of  our  Divine  Master,  and  moved, 
we  trust,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  organize  ourselves  into  a  missionary'  association, 
by  the  adoption  of  the  following  constitution." 

A  number  of  auxiliaries  were  organized  in  the  conference. 
Money  to  the  amount  of  $328.13  was  collected,  but  no  mission 
work  was  undertaken.  It  was  expected  at  this  time  that  other 
conferences  would  organize.  Nothing  was  done,  however. 
For  want  of  an  object,  all  but  two  of  the  societies  of  Miami 
Conference  ceased  to  work.  These  two  were  discouraged.  A 
meeting  was  called  in  the  First  Church  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion of  issuing  a  call  for  a  general  meeting.  Six  ladies  re- 
sponded to  the  call.  Some  timid,  faint-hearted  ones  suggest- 
ed that  we  could  not  work  as  the  women  of  some  of  our  sister 
denominations,  and  if  we  undertook  it,  there  would  be  re- 
sponsibility, and  we  would  be  sure  to  fail.  Sister  Sowers 
repeated  after  each  one  of  these,  "  They  cannot  do  our  work. 


8  woman's  "^MISSIONARY   'ASSOCIATION. 

If  God  calls,  dare  we  falter?"  AH' felt,  that  God  did  call, 
and  agreed  to  take  steps  toward  a  general  organization.  A 
number  of  articles  were  written  in  the  Religious  Telescope, 
asking  for  a  meeting.  The  Missionary  Treasurer,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Hott,  and  the  Missionary  Secretary,  Rev.  D.  K.  Flickinger, 
pressed  the  matter  in  private  and  through  the  press.  The 
General  Board  of  the  Church  had  recommended  such  an  or- 
ganization. Mrs.  Hadley,  returning  from  Africa,  urged  the 
project.     Everything  pointed  to  it  as  a  duty. 

The  Religious  Telescope  of  September  29,  1875,  contained 
the  following  call,  signed  by  Mrs.  T.  N.  Sowers  and  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Lanthurn : 

"  For  the  purpose  of  creating  a  greater  interest  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of 
missions,  and  laboring  more  direcflly  in  the  work  of  the  Divine  Master  by 
bringing  into  more  aAive  and  efficient  service  the  sisters  of  the  Church,  a 
call  is  made  for  a  Woman's  Missionary  Convention,  to  meet  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
First  Church,  October  21,  1875. 

"It  is  desired  that  the  convention  shall  partake  of  the  nature  of  a  mass 
meeting.  "We  therefore  invite  all  persons  interested  in  the  work  to  be  pres- 
ent." 

The  call  was  answered  by  the  following  conferences  :  Mi- 
ami, Scioto,  Sandusky,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Western  Reserve, 
Lower  Wabash,  Virginia,  and  Allegheny.  Six  of  the  nine 
conferences  sent  delegates.  The  last  three  were  represented 
by  ladies  whose  husbands  were  members  of  the  respective 
conferences,  and  at  that  time  resided  in  Dayton.  Five  States 
were  thus  represented,  but  only  three  by  resident  delegates, 
viz. :  Michigan,  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  the  last  named  State 
being  represented  by  four  conferences.  Those  in  attendance 
at  that  meeting  from  Scioto  Conference  are  now  included  in 
the  Central  Ohio  Conference.  Several  other  conferences  ap- 
pointed delegates,  who  sent  letters  of  encouragement.  Two 
days  (October  21  and  22,  1875,)  were  spent  in  faithful,  prayer- 
ful work.  A  constitution  that  had  been  previously  published 
was  discussed,  amended,  and  adopted,  and  the  "  Woman's 
Missionary  Association  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ" 
was   organized   by   the   election  of  officers :     President,  Mrs. 


ORGANIZATION.  9 

T.  N.  Sowers;  Vice  Presidents,  Mrs.  Z.  A.  Colestock,  Mrs. 
M.  H.  Bridgeman,  Mrs.  S.  Haywood;  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary, Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  D;  L. 
Rike ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Shuey.  All  started  anew  under 
the  constitution  adopted.  The  Miami  Conference  Society 
paid  its  money  into  the  general  Association,  and  reorganized. 
The  officers  in  the  new  were  about  the  same  as  in  the  old, 
the  smaller  only  yielding  itself  to  larger  existence.  Spring 
was  decided  upon  as  the  time  to  hold  the  annual  meeting. 
May,  1876,  First  Church,  were  the  time  and  place  agreed 
upon  for  the   next   meeting. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  organization  includes  a  Board  of  Managers,  a  Board 
of  Trustees,  Annual  Conference  Branch  Societies,  Local  So- 
cieties,  Young   Ladies'  Bands,  and  Children's  Bands. 

The  Board  of  Managers  is  composed  of  delegates,  elected 
annually  by  the  conference  branches.  The  Board  of  Trustees 
are  elected  annually  by  the  Board  of  Managers.  The  Offi- 
^.ers  are  elected  from  the  Trustees. 

The  local  societies  hold  quarterly  meetings,  and  are  the 
chief  instruments  in  gathering  money.  The  branch  societies 
meet  annually,  as  does  also  the  Board  of  Managers.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  meet  upon  call,  in  the  office  of  the  society. 

By  the  terms  of  the  Constitution,  the  Association  is  under 
the  direction  of  the  General  Conference,  and  submits  quad- 
rennial reports  to  that  body.  But  in  the  election  of  officers, 
and  in  general  management,  it  is  independent. 

The  Constitution  was  printed  and  bound,  with  an  address 
to  the  women  of  the  Church,  and  sent  out.  Some  societies 
were  organized  in  various  places. 

At  the  meeting  in  May,  1876,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Billheimer,  having 
returned  from  mission  work  in  Africa,  added  new  life  to  the 
meeting.  It  was  determined  to  venture  out  and  undertake 
gome  work.  All  seemed  to  feel  the  responsibility  of  appro- 
priating the  fir«+.  money.      There  was  a  unanirnnng   feeling 


10  woman's  missionary  association. 

that  our  work  should  be  among  the  Avomen  and  children,  and 
this  sentiment  assumed  definite  shape  when  Mrs.  Billheimer 
moved  "  that  the  funds  now  in  the  treasury  be  used  for  the 
founding  and  support  of  a  mission  school  in  Africa."  She 
then  spoke  of  her  personal  knowledge  of  the  need  of  such 
work,  and  of  the  feasibility  of  the  plan ;  that  it  could  be 
started  on  a  small  scale  and  enlarged  as  our  means  would 
permit.  Our  hope  of  helping  Africa  is  through  the  children. 
The  motion  prevailed. 

FOREIGN    WORK. 


The  first  idea  was  to  support  a  school  under  the  control  of 
the  missionaries  of  the  General  Board,  near  Shaingay.  It  was 
agreed  to  support  Miss  Emily  Beeken,  then  under  appoint- 
ment. But  instead  of  this,  by  the  advice  of  the  officers  of 
the  General  Board  and  the  missionaries  then  in  the  field,  it 
was  decided  to  establish  schools  up  the  Bompeh  River,  in  a 
thickly  populated  territory  that  was  calling  for  light,  and  was 
without  any  missionary  work.  The  General  Board,  thinking 
it  not  best  to  distribute  their  force  over  so  much  territory, 
urged  us  to  occupy  this  new  ground.  With  repeated  visits 
and  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Gomer,  the  mission  was  located 
at  Rotufunk,  on  the  Bompeh  River,  about  fifty  miles  east 
of  Freetown.  Miss  Beeken  went  to  Rotufunk  late  in  the 
autumn  of  1877,  at  which  time  we  undertook  her  full  support. 

The  pioneer  work  was  difficult,  but  it  was  bravely  accom- 
plished. One  with  less  courage  than  that  of  Miss  Beeken  could 
not  have  succeeded  in  starting  a  mission  so  far  from  any  civil- 
ized help  or  protection.  The  head-man  built  a  barra  for  wor- 
ship, and  the  Association  a  mud  house  for  the  missionary  on  a 
beautiful  elevated  site  near  the  town.  Miss  Beeken  estab- 
lished two  schools,  and  had  public  services  in  surrounding 
towns.  Only  those  who  have  done  such  work,  and  those  now 
in  the  field,  can  fully  appreciate  the  service  she  rendered  our 
Associatit)n  in  laving  the  foundation   of  our   mission.     She 


FOREIGN   WORK. —  AFRICA.  11 

made  an  urgent  request  for  a  large  bell  for  the  station. 
Through  the  solicitation  of  Mrs.  Sowers,  Mr.  John  Dodds 
gave  one ;  and  as  the  ringing  of  the  bell  from  old  Independ- 
ence Hall,  on  the  morning  of  our  nation's  birth  to  freedom, 
said  more  plainly  than  words  could  tell,  that  all  men  are  born 
free  and  equal,  so  this  bell  proclaims  liberty  to  the  captive, 
and  the  striking  off  of  the  shackles  of  sin  that  so  long  have 
bound  them. 

Miss  Beeken  was  succeeded  at  the  end  of  nineteen  months 
by  Mrs.  M.  M.  Mair,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland.  Mrs.  Mair  had  an 
experience  of  twenty-six  years  on  the  West  Coast  of  Africa, 
which  enabled  her  to  endure  the  climate  better  than  new  mis- 
sionaries. She  lauded  at  Freetown,  October  19,  1879,  and  Avent 
to  Rotufunk  the  following  month.  The  previous  May,  at  our 
annual  meeting,  we  had  agreed  to  send  to  Africa  from  this 
country  the  material  for  a  good  house,  so  that  our  mission- 
aries might  have  a  comfortable  home.  Two  thousand  dollars 
were  easily  raised  outside  of  membership  dues,  and  Mrs.  Mair 
superintended  the  construction  of  the  building,  and  enjoyed 
living  in  it,  as  she  so  well  deserved.  She  was  indefatigable 
in  her  labors,  and  her  influence  over  the  natives  was  wonder- 
ful. She  taught  them  by  precept  and  example.  She  corrob- 
orated Dr.  Flickinger's  report,  that  of  all  dark  places  in  Africa 
Rotufunk  was  the  blackest.  Mrs.  Mair  was  almost  over- 
whelmed with  the  responsibility  of  the  work,  with  only 
native  helpers,  but  she  said,  "  I  always  made  it  the  rule  of  my 
life,  when  I  had  anything  to  do,  to  try.'"  She  secured  better 
teachers  for  the  schools,  and  established  two  others.  She  had 
the  confidence  and  co-operation  of  the  chiefs  and  head-men, 
and  such  was  her  influence  over  the  people  in  three  years  and 
a  half,  that  she  said  she  had  been  in  but  two  towns  in  this 
country  where  the  Sabbath  was  observed  so  well.  Pa  Sourie, 
the  head-man  of  Rotufunk,  gave  up  the  use  of  strong  drinks 
and  tobacco,  and  compelled  the  people  to  desist  from  labor  on 
the  Sabbath  day.  Rotufunk  was  a  station  for  slave  traders 
when  our  mission  was  located  there;  but  before  Mrs.  Mair 


12 


WOMAN  S    MISSIONARY    ASSOCIATION. 


came  away,  this  was  broken  up.  A  deed  was  received  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  ground  at  Rotufunk  and  Palli,  part 
of  which  was  put  under  cultivation. 

Early  in  1882  we  were  warned  of  the  declining  strength 
of  Mrs.  Mair,  and  began  to  look  for  reinforcement.  It  was 
determined  to  send  a  man  and  his  wife,  as  the  work  was  too 
hard  for  a  woman  to  carry.     Rev.  R.  N.  West  and  Miss  Lida 


REV.  R.  N.  WEST. 

Miller,  students  in  Union  Biblical  Seminary,  were  chosen. 
Both  had  foreign  missionary  work  in  view,  and  were  prepar- 
ing for  it.  They  were  married  in  the  summer,  and  sailed 
from  New  York  October  2,  1882,  arriving  at  Freetown  De- 
cember 3.  Mrs.  Mair  remained  a  few  months,  and  then  came 
to  America  on  her  way  home  to  Scotland.  Her  presence 
at  our  annual  meetina;  a*  Westerville  added  new  'nterest 
to  the  work. 


FOREIGN   WORK. —  AFRICA.  13 

At  this  meeting  came  the  word  from  Mr.  West,  that 
so  many  persons  gathered  at  the  public  services  that  in 
the  rainy  season  no  house  was  large  enough  to  accommodate 
them,  and  many  had  to  be  turned  away.  He  asked  to  be 
allowed  to  build  a  chapel.  The  Committee  on  African  Work 
recommended  the  raising  of  two  thousand  dollars,  the  esti- 
mate of  the  cost  of  a  suitable  building.  Cash  and  subscrip- 
tions were  taken  at  once  to  the  amount  of  eleven  hundred 
dollars.  The  money  was  all  raised  and  the  chapel  completed 
within  a  year,  and  —  what  was  a  new  thing  under  the  sun  — 
at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars  less  than  the  estimate.  Mr. 
West  described  the  building  as  follows  : 

"  The  building  is  a  neat,  substantial  stru<5lure.  The  main  room  is  forty- 
two  by  twenty-eight  feet,  with  six  large  double  windows  on  each  side  and 
two  in  front,  one  on  each  side  of  the  door.  These  are  made  of  wood,  hung 
on  hinges  at  top,  and  open  outward.  Behind  the  pulpit  is  a  large  double  win- 
dow of  glass,  hung  on  pivots.  This  gives  a  good  atmosphere,  and  serves  to 
prevent  sleepiness  in  the  pulpit.  There  is  a  large  double  door  in  front.  The 
pulpit  stands  upon  a  raised  platform.  Its  front  and  sides  are  like  the  five 
sides  of  an  octagon  and  the  back  of  one  side.  The  three  front  sides  are 
of  counter,  a  native  wood  of  great  beauty,  the  remaining  sides  and  top  being 
beautifully  marked  pitch  pine.  The  whole  is  nicely  varnished.  The  benches 
are  made  of  white  pine  lumber.  They  are  ten  feet  long,  with  backs,  and 
fastened  to  the  floor.  Mr.  Gomer  says  they  are  the  most  comfortable  seats  he 
ever  saw.  The  room  will  seat  three  hundred  persons  comfortably.  To  the 
left  of  the  pulpit  is  a  door  leading  into  the  primary  class  room.  This  room  is 
twelve  feet  square,  with  one  outside  door  and  two  windows.  Mrs.  West  is 
especially  pleased  with  this  room,  and  says,  '  If  a  separate  room  is  needed  at 
home  for  children,  it  is  needed  tenfold  more  here.'  The  building  is  upon  a 
stone  foundation,  with  stone  steps  in  front,  and  a  belfry  over  the  steps.  The 
entire  cost  of  the  building,  including  the  coat  of  paint  yet  needed,  is  fifteen 
hundred  dollars.  God  has  surely  been  kind  to  us,  and  we  feel  like  praising 
him  for  his  wonderful  grace." 

With  the  exception  of  a  coat  of  paint,  the  chapel  was  fin- 
ished by  the  24th  of  February,  1884,  when  it  was  dedicated. 
Rev.  J.  Gomer,  of  Shaingay,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon 
in  a  very  satisfactory  manner.  After  the  sermon,  an  invita- 
tion was  given  for  a  free-will  offering  to  the  Lord,  and  the 
people  responded  by  subscribing  one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres 


14 


WOMAN'S   MISSIONARY    ASSOCIATION. 


of  land  at  Palli ;  live  binkeys  of  rice  (from  fifty  to  one  hun- 
dred bushels) ;  one  cow,  one  country  cloth,  and  thirty-seven 
dollars  and  fourteen  cents  in  cash  subscriptions.  The  people 
were  glad  for  this  house,  and  the  missionaries  were  encour- 
aged.    The  report  said  : 

"  The  work  has  been  prospering  during  the  year.  We  have  now,  in  con- 
nection with  the  work,  fifty-four  regular  preaching  places,  being  an  increase 
of  twenty-three  during  the  year.     In  these  places  more  than  two  thousand 


MRS.  R.  N.  WEST. 

five  hundred  persons  hear  the  word  of  God.  The  people  are  so  ready  to 
hear,  and  always  say  that  they  want  us  to  come  all  the  time.  Fully  one 
thousand  persons  everj'  Sabbath  hear  preaching  in  connexion  with  the  differ- 
ent stations  of  the  mission  alone,  and  here  and  there  is  one  who  has  given 
his  heart  to  Jesus  and  is  sincerely  trusting  in  him." 

Our  missionaries  were  to  have  a  test  of  their  devotion  and 
strength,  unparalleled  in  the  mission  work  of  the  Church. 
Mrs.  West  wrote,  April  4,  first  speaking  of  the  work  in  con- 
nection with  buildine: : 


FOREIGN    WORK. AFRICA.  15 

"Then  there  were  months  of  hard  labor,  only  known  to  those  who  have 
had  experience  in  heathen  lands.  But  our  congregations  were  increasing, 
and  we  scarcely  heeded  the  toil,  so  anxious  were  we  to  get  into  our  new  chapel. 
Now  it  is  completed  —  all  given  up  to  God.  For  two  Sabbaths  the  house  was 
crowded,  and  then  the  war  came,  and  that  dreaded  disease,  small-pox,  has  set- 
tled down  over  our  town  and  surrounding  country.  Now  we  are  but  few  who 
meet  together;  but  only  God  knows  how  many  petitions  rise  to  him  from  suf- 
fering ones  out  in  the  bush,  in  the  town,  and  out  on  the  battle-field.  We 
were  much  encouraged  by  the  following  testimony  of  a  young  man  in  our 
seekers'  meeting  last  vSabbath.  For  some  time  we  have  thought  him  a 
Christian.  He  was  in  the  war,  and  distinguished  himself  for  his  bravery. 
He  came  back  because  of  a  wound  received  in  the  hand.  After  speaking  of 
his  trust  in  Jesus,  he  said:  '  When  the  war  come,  I  no  care  to  go;  but  when 
the)-  go  come  for  tear  down  this  God's  house,  I  no  agree  —  so  I  go.  I  take  no 
country  medicine,  I  trust  in  God.  He  hold  umbrella  over  me, — he  give  me 
power.  I  kill  plenty.  I  come  back  now,  I  kill  plenty,  now  sin  come  on  me. 
I's  sorry.     I  come  here  this  morning.     I  beg  Jesus  to  wash  me. '  " 

The  war,  which  it  Avas  thought  would  he  short,  lasted  with 
all  its  attendant  evils  of  butchery,  famine,  and  plunder,  with 
little  abatement,  for  two  years. 

~A  Mohammedan  priest  from  Arabia  brought  small-pox, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  whole  town  of  Rotufunk  and  country 
around  were  infested  with  it.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  did  all  in 
their  })()wer  to  alleviate  the  suffering.  Mr.  West  was  sick 
two  weeks  with  this  scourge,  but  recovered  with  the  careful 
nursing  of  Mrs.  West.  It  was  estimated  that  fifty  persons 
died.  One  of  the  mission  children,  Preston  Edwards,  was  of 
the  number.     He  died  trusting  in  Jesus. 

Two  of  our  stations,  Mo  Shengo  and  Sumanosogo,  were  plun- 
dered, and  the  building  at  Mo  Shengo  was  destroyed.  The 
town  of  Marmoo  was  chosen  as  a  safe  and  desirable  place ;  so  the 
children  of  both  schools  were  removed  there,  in  the  care  of  Mr. 
Stewart.  He  opened  school,  September  29,  1884,  Mr.  Weeks 
giving  his  time  to  itinerating.  Mr.  West  says  of  Marmoo  : 
"  It  is  a  large  town,  midway  between  Rotufunk  and  the  ocean, 
the  home  of  Bannah  Will  Caulker,  a  warm  friend  of  the  mis- 
sion, and  has  long  been  asking  that  Ave  send  them  a  teacher." 
Besides  these  anxieties,  our  faithful  missionaries  Avere  called 
to  part  with  a  little  daughter,  Avho,  after  five  days  of  earthly 


16  woman's  missionary  association. 

life,  was  taken  to  the  heavenly  home.  Through  these  trials 
of  disease,  war,  sickness,  and  death,  our  beloved  missionaries 
were  sustained  by  the  abundant  grace  of  God.  During  these 
trying  times,  the  buildings  at  Rotufunk  and  Palli  were  un- 
harmed. The  itinerating  was  interrupted,  but  because  of  the 
mission  and  its  influence,  the  country  was  not  deserted.  Mr. 
West  wrote : 

"Though  two  of  our  stations  are  broken  down,  and  though  we  have  been 
forced  to  give  up  preaching  in  forty-nine  towns  where  before  we  had  regular 
preaching,  and  though  we  are  pressed  to  the  wall,  sorely  perplexed  as  to  the 
course  to  pursue,  yet  there  is  one  thing  for  which  we  should  truly  praise  God, 
and  which  should  cause  every  Christian  heart  to  take  courage.  Our  people 
are  scattered  and  in  distress,  but  they  have  not  turned  away  from  the  gospel. 
They  are  not  willing  that  the  mission  should  go  away  from  them.  The 
gospel  has  a  deeper  hold  upon  the  people  of  the  Bompeh  country  than  it  had 
before  the  war.  Many  cling  to  it  with  the  enefgy  of  despair.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  mission,  the  people  would  all  have  gone  away  from  this  country. 
Mohammedanism,  which  has  had  such  a  deep-rooted  hold  upon  the  people, 
has,  I  think,  received  such  a  check  as  will  effe(?tually  destroy  its  power  in  this 
country.  They  have  so  completely  deceived  and  defrauded  the  people,  that 
they  are  sickening  of  their  shams,  and  say  that  they  want  nothing  more  to  do 
with  them.  Our  influence  seems  to  be  increasing,  and  the  people  are  more 
eager  than  ever  to  hear  the  gospel." 

Many  instances  have  been  related  of  the  people  giving  up 
their  gree-grees  and  country  medicines,  which  cannot  be  re- 
peated here.  Our  first  and  prominent  work  has  been  for  the 
children.  The  older  persons  are  so  steeped  in  sin  and  en- 
tangled in  the  customs  of  the  country,  that  it  is  almost  im- 
j)ossible  for  them  to  break  away  from  their  habits.  The 
schools  are  made  up  of  children  from  the  villages  and  those 
in  the  mission.  As  many  children  as  can  be  cared  for  by 
the  missionaries,  are  taken  under  their  care  and  are  taught 
to  work.  A  portion  of  every  day  is  spent  on  the  farm  or 
at  some  mechanical  employment.  The  aim  is  to  train  the 
boys  and  girls  in  such  a  way  that  they  may  take  care  of  them- 
selves, and  be  able  to  develop  their  country.  "We  are  looking 
toward  self-support.  The  children,  with  the  help  of  a  few 
men,  have  done  the  work  connected  with  the  mission.     Large 


FOREIGN    WORK. —  AFRICA.  1< 

farms  are  under  cultivation.  Orchards  are  stsirted,  and  al- 
ready they  have  a  desire  to  have  ground  of  their  own  for 
cultivation.  These  children  are  Christians  —  bright,  earnest, 
and  hungry  for  knowledge,  using  every  opportunity  to  gain 
it.  So  eager  are  they  that  the^^  will  arise  in  the  night  and  get 
to  their  books.  On  one  occasion,  when  the  missionaries  told 
them  that  they  sliould  not  do  so,  a  boy  answered,  "No  use  to 
stay  in  bed  when  sleep  no  catch  'em."  These  boys  and  girls 
will  soon  become  our  teachers  and  itinerants. 

Fearing  that  our  missionaries  might  break  down  with  the 
long  strain  of  war  upon  them,  the  Trustees  invited  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  West  to  take  a  vacation  before  the  expiration  of  their 
term,  if  in  their  judgment  it  was  necessary.  After  consider- 
ing the  matter  some  months,  they  decided  to  come  to  America. 
They  divided  the  Avork  among  the  teachers,  children,  and 
laborers,  and  arranged  with  Rev.  J.  Gomer,  of  Shaingay,  to 
visit  the  mission  occasionally  to  see  that  all  was  well.  They 
sailed,  Feliruary  4,  1886,  and  arrived  in  New  York,  March  20. 
After  spending  several  months  with  friends,  they  attended  the 
Board  meeting  at  Huntington,  Indiana,  adding  greatly  to  the 
interest  by  their  accounts  of  the  work.  During  the  summer 
they  visited  camp-meetings  in  the  East,  and  did  good  work 
for  the  Association.  They  returned  to  Africa,  September  18, 
feeling  they  were  going  home.  They  often  spoke  of  being 
homesick  for  their  boys  and  girls  at  Rotufunk.  Mrs.  West 
wrote,  when  about  to  leave  New  York :  "  We  go  back,  feeling 
we  are  going  home,  back  to  Iriends,  back  to  a  delightful  work. 
We  go  gladly."  Tliey  had  a  long,  tedious,  uncomfortable 
voyage  of  fifty-three   dr.ys. 

This  field  is  large,  extending  hundreds  of  miles,  and  every- 
where people  are  groining  in  darkness.  Our  work  in  this  field 
is  limited  only  by  our  force  of  workers,  and  that  depends  upon 
our  contributions  of  money.  The  report  of  the  Shaingay  Con- 
ference, December,  1886,  gives  five  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
members,  and  preaching  in  forty-eight  towns. 


18  woman's  missioxai;y  association. 

GERMANY. 

Our  second  mission  work  was  undertaken  at  the  annual 
meeting  held  at  Fostoria,  Ohio,  in  May,  1880.  Rev.  C.  Bis- 
chofl',  superintendent  of  the  work  of  our  (.'hurcli  in  Germany, 
was  present  and  addressed  the  meeting  in  regard  to  the  great 
need  of  help  for  that  work.  Rev.  D.  K.  Flickinger  also  spoke 
of  the  great  opportunity  of  saving  souls  in  the  land  of  our 
Church  father,  Otterbein.  We  consented  to  support  the  work 
in  Coburg,  a  city  of  about  fourteen  thousand  inhabitants, 
with  an  appropriation  of  three  hundred  and  iifty  dollars. 
The  name  of  our  first  missionary  was  Rev.  G.  Noetzold.  He 
organized  a  church,  March  27,  1881.  He  described  the  place 
as  a  moral  desert.  The  state  churches  were  given  over  to 
formalism.  The  pastors  were  neglectful  of  their  flocks,  and 
the  common  people  had  no  gospel.  The  results  of  liis  labors 
Avere  highly  gratifying.  The  appropriation  was  soon  increas- 
ed to  secure  a  larger  hall.  Al)out  the  close  of  the  first  year 
Eev.  William  Mittendorf,  then  our  German  editor,  visited  the 
mission  and  wrote:  "I  thank  the  sisters  in  America,  as  the 
people  here  say,  'a  hundred  llioiimnd  times,'  for  beginning  this 
mission."  At  that  time  there  were  twenty  members,  and  a 
good  Sabbath-school,  and  the  congregations  were  large. 
Preaching  services  Avere  held  at  several  large  towns  adjacent, 
but  nothing  permanent  was  done.  There  have  been  trials 
and  persecutions  here  as  well  as  in  Africa.  The  meetings 
were  often  disturbed  by  ruffians;  stones  were  sometimes 
thrown  through  the  windows  from  the  streets.  The  city 
papers  contained  articles  against  the  work,  probably  incited 
by  the  state  preachers  who  were  hostile  to  our  work.  Of 
these  the  missionary  wrote :  "  The  Lord  is  on  our  side.  In 
spite  of  all  persecutions  our  meetings  are  increasing  in 
numbers.  Persecutions  do  not  discourage  our  people,  but 
strengthen  them  in  the  faith." 

The  women  organized  a  sewing  society  in  order  to  assist 
the  mission.  They  meet  one  evening  a  week,  and  make  arti- 
cles for  side  for  the  benefit  of  the  mission. 


HOME    WORK.-  -CHINESE    MISSION.  19 

The  successor  of  Rev.  Noetzold  proved  unfaithful,  aud  was 
dismissed.  Rev.  H.  Barkemeyer  was  appointed  to  Coburg  by 
the  conference  in  the  spring  of  1886.  He  is  a  tried  man,  and 
has  been  faithful  to  the  work  for  many  years.  He  says  :  "  The 
conduct  of  my  predecessor  did  much  harm,  but  still  I  believe 
we  will  recover  the  loss  in  a  short  time.  Here  are  good  mem- 
bers Avho  have  a  good  influence,  but  some  are  not  converted. 
I  consider  it  my  first  duty  to  seek  the  conversion  of  these 
members."  Later  reports,  December  6,  1886,  tell  of  a  good 
revival  influence,  and  the  contribution  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  marks  (sixty-two  dollars)  by  a  lady  in  Coburg  toward 
the  erection  of  a  chapel. 

HOME  WORK. 
CHINESE   MISSION. 

From  the  beginning  of  our  (Organization,  the  Chinese  in 
our  own  country  enlisted  the  sympathv  of  our  ladies.  The 
bishops,  from  time  to  time,  as  they  visited  the  Western  Coast, 
spoke  of  the  utter  neglect  to  give  these  people  the  gospel. 
Our  ministers'  Avives  on  the  coast  asked  frequently  that  we 
supply  means  for  reaching  these  people;  but  for  want  of 
money  and  faith,  years  passed  ]iy  with  only  talk  and  resolu- 
tions. Bishop  Castle,  by  articles  in  the  papers  and  by  per- 
sonal letters,  awakened  such  an  interest  that  at  the  annual 
meeting  at  Western,  Iowa,  in  May,  1881,  the  Board  passed  the 
resolution  :  "  That  we  request  the  Trustees  to  open  a  school  for 
the  Chinese  on  the  Pacific  Coast  as  soon  as  practicable." 
Letters  were  written  to  Bishop  Castle,  asking  him  to  suggest  a 
jDlace.  He  visited  San  Francisco,  and  Portland,  Oregon,  as  he 
could,  consistently  with  his  duties,  and  found  a  great  many 
Chinese  at  both  places  who  needed  the  gospel. 

In  Portland,  Oregon,  a  Christian  Chinaman  by  the  name 
of  Moy  Ling  had  gathered  his  countrymen  together  and  held 
a  night  school  for  six  years.  They  had  some  school-furniture, 
and  paid  for  their  fuel,  light,  and  room  rent.  They  were 
taught  in  classes  of  from  three  to  five,  by  voluntary  teachers 
as  they  could  be  enlisted.     Tlie  school  grew  to  such  propor- 


20 


avoman's  missionary  association. 


tions  that  Moy  Ling  Avanted  some  church  to  take  hold  of 
it.  This  came  to  Bishop  Castle's  notice,  and  he  began  to 
negotiate  for  it.  Nothing  very  satisfactory  could  be  arranged 
until  a  teacher  could  be  secured.  The  school  numbered  from 
twenty  to  thirty.  Moy  Ling  wrote  a  very  intelligent  letter, 
expressing  great  pleasure  in  the  prospect  of  our  control  of  the 
school.  To  have  a  school  organized  was  unexpected,  and  we 
thought  it  too  good  to  l:)e  true.     But  uj^on  further  inquiry  we 


MBS.  GEO.  SICKAFOOSE. 

were  convinced  that  this  was  the  answer  to  our  prayers,  and 
decided  to  take  the  school,  in  October,  1882.  After  much 
thought  and  prayer  we  appointed  Mrs.  Ellen  Sickafoose,  of 
Buchanan,  Michigan,  to  take  charge  of  the  mission,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1882. 

Mrs.  Sickafoose,  after  her  appointment,  upon  advising  with 
her  friends,  did  not  deem  it  wise  or  best  to  take  that  long 
journey  in  the  winter,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Trustees 
deferred  it  till  after  the  Board  meetina;,  meanwhile  ^^^I'king  as 


UCniK    WORK. —  CHINESE    MISSION.  21 

sue  could  in  hor  l)raiicli  society.  Bishop  Castle  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Watson,  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Portland,  gave  the  school 
Avhat  attention  they  could.  Moy  Ling  was  asked  to  go  on 
with  the  school,  and  remain  with  it  as  interpreter  after  the 
teacher  arrived.  Rev.  George  Sickafoose,  the  husband  Of  the 
lady  appointed  to  our  mission,  was  appointed  by  the  General 
Board  of  the  Church  to  take  cliarge  of  the  mission  church 
in  East  Portland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sickafoose  attended  the 
annual  meeting  in  Westerville,  and  then  went  directly  to  the 
Avork. 

Mrs.  Sickafoose  took  charge  of  the  school,  July  16,  1883, 
with  twenty  pupils.  At  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  there 
were  fifty-eight  pupils  and  seven  teachers  enrolled ;  at  the 
close  of  the  second,  one  hundred  and  thirty  pupils  and  thir- 
teen teachers ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  third,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  pupils  and  twelve  teachers,  showing  a  steady  in- 
crease. They  contributed,  themselves,  for  the  support  of  the 
school,  first  quarter,  eighty-three  dollars ;  second  quarter, 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one  dollars;  third  quarter,  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-three  dollars,  making  the  w^hole  amount 
contril)uted  four  hundred  and  seven  dolkirs.  Moy  Ling,  who 
liegan  and  carried  forward  the  sclioi^l  for  some  time,  has  been 
a  most  faithful  helper.  He  gave  all  the  furniture,  consisting 
of  an  organ,  tables,  seats,  chairs,  cluck,  stove,  lamps,  and 
books,  to  the  Association.  The  school  is  held  every  evening  in 
the  week,  except  Saturday,  from  7  :  30  to  9 :  30.  Five  or  six 
are  taught  by  one  teacher.  A  building  was  rented  in  a  good 
location ;  but  with  the  growth  of  the  school  the  rooms  were 
much  crowded,  and  there  was  soon  a  pressing  need  of  a  better 
building. 

By  the  time  of  the  Board  meeting  in  1884,  the  school  had 
grown  to  such  proportions  that  the  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Sick- 
afoose were  needed,  and  we  were  fortunate  in  securing  them, 
the  General  Board  having  disbanded  the  mission  in  East  Port- 
land. At  this  time  we  also  learned  that  our  school  was  liable 
to  be  interrunt'^'^  by  the  sale  c^f  the  pro]-»erty,  and  began  a  sub- 


22  woman's  missionary  as.sociation. 

scrii)tion  for  the  purchase  of  a  building,  estimating  the  cost  of 
one  suitable  for  residence  and  school  at  six  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  agreed  to  raise  this  amount  in  two  years.  The  sum  of 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars  and  forty- 
tliree  cents  was  paid  and  pledged  at  the  meeting.  The 
question  of  the  purchase  of  the  building  in  which  the 
school  Avas  held,  came  before  the  Trustees  earlv  in    Novem- 


REV.  GEO.  SICKAFOOSE. 

ber.  The  fact  that  the  property  was  not  suited  to  our  wants, 
and  would  necessitate  repairing  or  rebuilding  at  once,  de- 
terred the  Trustees  from  undertaking  it,  and  word  was  sent  to 
our  superintendent  to  try  to  rent  a  place.  The  necessity  of 
a  more  suitable  and  a  permanent  place  was  felt  by  the  friends 
of  this  good  Avork,  and  many  expressed  their  disappointment 
that  a  building  was  not  purchased.  We  had  hoped  that  some 
one  would  purchase  the  property,  from  whom  we  might  rent, 
and  not  disturb  the  school.     When  there  Avas  no  longer  any 


IIO-MK    AVMJtK. —  CiriNKSE    MISSJOX.  23 

hope  of  this,  Brother  Sickafoosc  Mrote  lis,  (U-scribiiig  a  good 
piece  of  property,  which  was  for  sale  at  a  reasonable  price  : 

"The  property  is  on  Second  and  Mill  streets,  about  four  blocks  from 
where  we  are  now  located.  It  is  a  corner  lot  of  fifty  by  one  hundred  feet, 
with  a  new  building,  fifty  by  fifty,  two  stories  high,  with  two  splendid 
business  rooms  on  the  first  flojr,  with  stair-way  in  the  center,  and  twelve 
nice  living  rooms  on  the  second  floor.  This  large,  new  building  fronts 
on  Second  Street;  has  been  put  up  and  finished  since  we  came  here,  and  cost 
the  man  six  thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  Back  of  this  building,  fronting 
on  Mill  Street,    is  a  good  residence  of  seven  rooms." 

After  niucli  thought  and  prayer,  and  with  the  advice  of 
warm  friends,  we  secured  the  property.  The  cost,  being  eight 
thousand  dollars,  caused  earnest  solicitude  as  to  whether  the 
members  Avould  sustain  the  Trustees;  but  the  advantages  this 
pro])erty  liad  over  the  other  were,  that  it  at  once  suited  our 
puri)Ose;  tlie  rents  for  the  part  not  needed  would  secure  the 
unj^aid  money,  and,  when  the  building  was  paid  for,  would  go 
toward  the  support  of  the  school ;  if  at  any  time  it  would  l)e 
necessary  to  dispose  of  it,  being  built  for  business  purposes,  it 
would  be  salable ;  the  price  was  only  one  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  more  than  the  other  one  sold  for.  The  members  and 
Board  commended  the  Trustees,  and  went  to  work  to  secure 
the  money.  At  the  decennial  meeting  at  First  Church,  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  in  May,  1885,  at  a  solemn,  beautiful  service,  thank- 
offerings  were  made  for  this  building  Avhich  amounted  to  five 
hundred  and  eighty  dollars.  The  first  year  two  thousand  five 
hundred  and  thirty-six  dollars  and  ninety  cents  were  secured. 
The  unpaid  amount  was  apportioned  to  the  branch  societies. 
It  was  expected  that  the  whole  amount  would  be  in  the  treas- 
ury by  the  Board  meeting  in  1886;  but  because  of  a  failure  in 
some  of  the  societies  to  raise  their  apportionment  the  full 
amount  was  not  paid  until  December,  1886.  People  in  the 
Church,  and  those  not  connected  Avith  us,  speak  in  praise 
of  our  school,  teachers,  missionaries,  and  property. 

Who  shall  be  al)le  to  compute  the  good  influence  which 
shall  go  out  from  tliis  school  ?  Already  fifty  have  rejected  the 
Joss,  and  accepted  Christ  as  their  Savior,  and  between  four 


24  AVOMAX'S   MISSIONARY   ASSOCIATION. 

and  five  hundred  have  been  instructed,  both  in  the  way  of 
letters  and  in  the  Avay  of  life.  But  only  a  beginning  has  been 
made  by  any  of  the  churches  in  this  mission  work.  The 
great  mass  of  the  Chinese  are  learning  only  the  vices  of  our 
civilization.  The  coming  of  the  Chinese  to  America  is  one 
of  the  mighty  movements  of  God's  providence  against  Avhich 
unbelievers  rage  and  take  counsel  together,  and  which  short- 
sighted Christians  too  often  do  not  comprehend,  but  which 
will  be  recognized  in  centuries  to  come  to  be  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal means  by  which  the  final  destinies  of  that  great  empire, 
and  of  .Japan,  and  of  all  the  nations  of  Eastern  Asia,  have 
been  shaped.  Having  come  in  contact  with  Western  civiliza- 
tion and  under  our  institutions  heard  of  the  Savior  of  men, 
they  can  never  be  the  same  as  they  were  before.  Our  hope  is, 
that  through  those  whom  we  bring  to  accept  Christ,  we  may 
reach  many  others,  and  eventually  thoae  in  the  empire.  The 
possibilities  are  great.  Thousands  are  yet  without  a  knowl- 
edge of  a  true  God.  Other  schools  might  be  ')])ened  if  the 
money  were  in  the  treasury. 

3IOY   LING. 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  every  one  to  know  a  little  of  the 
history  of  our  faithful  interpreter.  He  Avas  born  in  Sun 
Ning  County,  Canton,  China,  in  1852.  He  attended  private 
school  in  China  three  years,  and  grammar  school  four  years. 
He  has  a  good  education  in  Chinese.  His  father  was  a  farmer. 
He  is  the  youngest  of  three  brothers,  and-has  one  sister.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  his  mother 
when  he  was  nineteen.  He  came  to  Portland,  Oregon,  in 
August,  1872,  and  has  been  there  ever  since.  He  had  some 
idea  of  the  great  God  when  quite  young,  and  believed  the 
only  Avay  to  worship  him  was  through  Joss.  The  first  light 
tJiat  dawned  on  his  mind  in  regard  to  the  Christian  religion, 
was  from 'reading  a  Bible  in  Chinese,  presented  to  him  by 
General  Howard  in  1874.  He  attended  mission  school  in 
Portland  about  four  years,  has  a  fair  English  education,  and 


HOME    WORK. 


■MOY    LING. 


25 


is  a  beautiful  writer.  In  the  Bible  that  was  given  him  he 
soon  learned  that  the  Christian  religion  was  superior  to  the 
pagan,  and  in  1877  he  accepted  Christ  as  his  Savior.  He 
then  became  very  much  interested  in  his  countrymen,  and 
l)egun  a  school  with  ten  scholars,  promising  to  stay  with 
them  till  some  church  would  take  it.  He  joined  our  church 
at  East  Portland  in  1883,  and  when  a  Chinese  society  was 
organized  he  became  class  leader.     He  can  read,  and  speak  ou]' 


MOY  LING. 

language  well,  and  is  a  very  fine  interpreter.  His  people 
have  great  confidence  in  him.  At  first  he  worked  during  the 
day,  and  gave  his  evenings  to  the  school.  He  had  a  great  de- 
sire to  study  music  and  otherwise  inform  himself;  and  was  of 
such  value  to  the  school  in  visiting  among  his  people,  that 
since  1885  his  whole  time  has  been  given  to  the  school.  He 
has  desired  to  go  back  to  China  on  a  visit;  but  feels  such 
a  responsibility  about  the  work  that  Ave  have  prevailed  upon 
him  to  remain  with  it.  Very  much  of  our  great  success  is 
due  to  his  abilitv  and  consecration  to  the  work. 


26  woman's  missionary  association. 

woman's  evangel. 

In  the  beginning  of  onr  work  we  used  the  Religious  Tele- 
scope and  the  Missionary  Visitor  as  our  mediums  of  commun- 
ication. At  the  Board  meetings  of  1879  and  1880,  the  question 
of  a  paper  in  the  interest  of  our  work  was  proposed ;  but  fear- 
ing debt,  it  was  not  undertaken.  The  demand  by  the  workers 
became  so  imperative  that  in  1881,  at  \\^estern.  Iowa,  tlie 
Board  adoj^ted  the  following  resolution  : 

^^ Resolved,  That  the  books  be  opened  for  voluntary  contributions,  and  that, 
when  in  the  judgment  of  the  Executive  Committee  a  suflRcient  amount  be 
secured,  and  one  thousand  subscribers  be  obtained,  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee be  authorized,  in  conjunAion  with  a  committee  appointed  hy  this 
body,  to  publish  a  paper  or  magazine  in  the  interest  of  the  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Association  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

The  movement  was  undertaken  A\ith  such  extreme  cau- 
tion, because  all  felt  that  no  money  raised  for  missionary 
purposes  should  be  used  for  a  paper,  and  we  were  told  by  the 
brethren  that  it  would  not  pay  for  itself.  A  sixteen-page 
monthly,  with  home,  foreign  and  children's  departments,  at 
seventy-live  cents  per  copy,  was  determined  upon. 

Early  in  December  the  first  numl»er  of  the  Woman^s  Ercm- 
gel  was  issued,  bearing  date,  .January,  1882,  with  a  subscription, 
list  of  twelve  hundred.  By  the  Board  meeting  it  was  seven- 
teen hundred.  From  the  beginning  it  has  paid  all  the  ex- 
pense of  publishing  and  of  editorial  service.  The  price  was 
reduced  to  fifty  cents  in  1886,  with  such  an  increase  in  the 
subscription  list  as  to  promise  a  profit  for  the  Association. 
It  has  proved  one  of  the  l>est  agencies  for  extending  and 
establishing  our  work. 

SUMMARY. 

About  five  thousand  women,  over  two  thousand  children, 
and  a  few  hundred  young  ladies,  composed  the  membership 
of  the  Association  in  May,  1886, —  only  a  Gideon's  band,  com- 
pared with  the  great  number  of  women  who  are  in  the 
Ch'irch.     But  great   things   have   been  accomplished  hi  His 


SUMMAKV 


27 


name,  which  we  have  preached;  three  large,  flourishing 
missions,  in  three  quarters  of  the  globe,  with  a  membership 
of  six  hundred  and  forty  —  probably  three  thousand  hearing 
the  gospel  that  but  for  our  work  would  be  in  utter  darkness ; 
property  worth  at  a  low  estimate  twenty  thousand  dollars; 
all  this  for  a  few  prayers  and  the  gift  of  a  little  money. 
What  larger  work  is  before  us,  we  know  not.  There  is  no 
time  for  dreams.  Millions  of  women  and  children  are  dying 
without  a  hope  in  Christ.  The  means  to  give  them  the  bread 
of  life  are  Avithin  the  hands  of  God's  children.  We  must 
hasten.  Let  action  be  our  watch-word,  smd  forward  our  march- 
ing orders.  There  is  but  one  motive  to  actuate  us.  Being 
redeemed  and  blood-bought,  we  should  take  up  the  song 
of  Mary,  and  let  it  girdle  the  world  Avith  blessing,  until 
the  women  of  every  clime  and  nation  shall  hear  it.  "  My 
soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord,  and  my  spi-rit  hath  rejoiced  in 
God  my  Saviour.  *  *  *  He  that  is  mighty  hath  done  to  me 
great  things ;  and  holy  is  his  name." 

We,  as  a  part  of  the  Christian  Church,  are  under  obliga- 
tion to  carry  out  to  the  extent  of  our  ability  the  great  com- 
mission of  our  risen  Lord,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  Avorld,  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  The  promise  is,  "  All 
the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God." 
Shall  Ave  not  ask,  "  Lord,  Avhat  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do?" 
and  joyously  offer  our  best  gifts  for  the  service  of  the  King  of 

kings  ? 

Mrs.  Benj.  Marot, 

Mrs.  L.  K.  Miller, 

Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister. 

Publishing  Committee 


28 


WOMAN  S    MIS'^IONAKY    ASSi)(.IATlOX. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


Date. 


Place  of  Annual 
Meeting. 


WoEK  Commenced, 


REC'PTS: 


1875. 
Oct.il. 

1876. 
May  11. 

1877. 
AprU  26. 


1878. 
May  1. 


1879. 
May  21. 

1880. 
May  19. 

1881. 
May  11. 


1882. 
May  24. 


1883. 
May  16. 

1884. 
May  16. 


1885. 
May  7 


1886. 
May  19. 


1S87. 
May  20. 


Dayton,  Ohio,  First 
Church. 

Dayton,  Ohio,  First 
Church. 

Dayton,  Ohio,  Sum- 
■    mit  St.  Church. 


Gallon,  Ohio. 


Dayton,  Ohio,  First 
Church. 


Fostoria,  Ohio. 
Western,  Iowa. 

Lebanon,  Penn. 

Westerville,  Ohio. 
Hartsville,  Ind. 


Dayton,  Ohio,  First 
Church. 


Huntington,  Ind. 


Westfield,  111. 


Organization. 

.Support  of  a  school  in  Africa.  Created 
Life-Directorship  and  Life-Membership. 

Two  delegates  to  the  General  Conference — 
Mrs.  Rlke  and  Mrs.  BillJielmer.  Mrs.  Bill- 
helmer  employed  as  traveling  agent  and 
organizer.  Miss  Beeken  established  Mis- 
sion at  Rotufnnk. 

Miss  Beekeu  returned  on  account  of  ill 
healtii.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Mair  appointed  to 
Rotufunk. 


$458  50 


325  74 


1,391 


1,985  68 


A  mission  house  for  Africa  ordered.    Mrs. 
Billhelmer  to  collect  money  for  it. 

Mission  at  Coburg,  Germany,  taken.  3,691  S4 

Association  incorporated  March  28.    Paper       3,679  03 
ordered  started.    Mrs.  L.  R.  Kelster  em- 
ployed  as  corresponding   secretary  and 
editor,  June  15. 

Help  ordered  sent  to  Africa.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  5,458 
R.  N.  West  appointed,  June  22.  The 
work  of  organizing  given  to  the  corre- 
sponding secretary,  November  15.  Mrs. 
Sickafoose  appointed  to  Chinese  school, 
Portland,  Oregon,  November  15. 

Chapel  ordered  built  in  Africa ;   $1,191.39       6,559  89 
secured. 

Rev.  George  Sickafoose  appointed  superln-       8,094  23 
tendent  of  Chinese  mission.    A  subscrip- 
tion of  $1,291.43  was  secured  to  purchase 
property  for  Chinese  school.     Property 
purchased,  February  23,  1885. 

Celebrationof  the  decennial  year.   A  thank- ]   10,072  32 
ottering  of  $585.10.      Board  endorsed  the 
purchase  of  the  Chinese  property.    $3,000 
raiseil  in  cash  and  pledges. 


Help  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  ordered,  and 
that  $1,000  be  secured  by  special  effort  for 
this  purpose.  Death  of  the  president, 
Mrs.  Sylvia  Haywood,  October  24. 

"  Mary  Sowers  Home  for  Girls  "  built.  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Sage  appointed  to  Africa  ;  sailed 
September  24.  Mrs.  L.  K.  Milller  appoint- 
ed president. 


12,054  72 


11,681 


CHRONOLOGICAL     TABLE. 


29 


Date. 


1888. 
May  17 


May  8. 


1890. 
May  21. 


1891. 
May  19. 


1892. 
May  11. 


Place  of  Annual 
Meeting. 


Toledo,  Iowa. 


Harrisbiirg,  Penn, 


Dayton,  Ohio,  Sum- 
mit St.  ChurcL. 


1893. 
May  9. 


Decatur,  111. 


Baltimore,  Md. 


Germantown,  Ohio. 


WoEK  Commenced. 


Rec'pts. 


Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister  appointed  organizer. 
Mrs.  L.  K.  Miller  appointed  associate  edi- 
tor and  publisher  of  the  Evangel.  Mes- 
dames  Miller  and  Keister  sent  as  dele- 
gates to  the  World's  Missionary  Confer- 
ence, at  London,  England. 

Misses  Frances  Williams  and  Ellen  Groen- 
endyke  appointed  to  Africa  ;  sailed  Octo- 
ber 16.  "Boys'  Home"  at  Rotufunk 
built.  Rev.  Sickafoose  and  Moy  Ling 
sailed  for  Cliina,  October  4,  together  with 
the  appointed  missionaries,  Misses  Aus- 
tralia Patterson  and  Lillie  Sliaffner.  Aid 
Society  formed  at  Rotufunk. 

W.  C.  T.  U.  formed  at  Rotuf  nnk.  German 
Chapel  funds  loaned.  Rev.  Jacob  Miller 
and  wife  appointed  to  Africa;  sailed 
November.  Rov.  Sage  and  wife  returned 
to  America  in  October  ;  also  Miss  Shaffner. 
Mrs.  Bertha  Gorlaugh  appointed  secre- 
tary of  the  Teachers'  Fund. 

Assisted  in  opening  a  mission  church  at 
Portland,  Oregon.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  West 
returned  to  America.  Dr.  Mett.  Hatfield 
and  Misses  Elma  Bittle  and  Ella  Schenck 
appointed  to  Africa;  sailed  September 
23.  Dr.  S.  L.  Halverson  appointed  to 
China;  sailed  November  28. 

Cover  ordered  for  Evangel.  Dr.  Regiua 
Bigler  appointed  to  China ;  sailed  Novem- 
ber 16.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  I.  N.  Cain  and  Miss 
Lydia  Thomas  appointed  to  Africa,  and 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  West  returned;  all  sailed 
October  1.  Death  of  Frances  Williams, 
July  19.  Death  of  Elma  Bittle,  August  7. 
Return  to  America  of  Rev.  Jacob  Miller 
and  wife,  October.  Resignation  of  Mrs. 
Gerlaugh  and  appointment  of  Miss  Marie 
Shank  secretary  of  Teacliers'  Fund. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Fix  appointed  to  China  ; 
sailed  October  10.  Resignation  of  Mrs. 
L.  R.  Keister.  Appointment  of  Mrs.  B. 
F.  Witt  as  corresponding  and  recording 
secretary  in  May.  Appointment  of  Mrs. 
L.  K.  Miller  editor  of  the  Evangel.  Res- 
ignation of  Mrs.  M.  E.  Sickafoose  of 
charge  of  Portland  scliool,  to  take  effect 
October  1.  Appointment  of  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Henkle  to  Portland  school.  Last  Sunday 
of  September  of  each  year  set  apart  as  I 
"Woman's  Day  "  by  General  Conference. 


$11,448  44 


11,503  ."ig 


16,7:)6  66 


16,678  32 


16,068  24 


24,155  90 


SUPPLEMENT.- 1 888. 


The  preceding  pages  brought  the  record  down  to  the  close 
of  the  year  1886. 

With  a  new  edition  a  few  pages  are  added,  giving  the  new 
work  done  and  proposed  in  1877-1888. 

AFRICA. 

Previous  to  the  Board  meeting  of  1887  the  question  of 
doing  more  for  the  Avomen  of  Africa  was  discussed  in  the 
Evangel.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  had  written  and  told  us  that  Ave 
must  do  something  for  the  uplifting  of  the  girls  in  Africa,  if 
we  expected  to  accomplish  anything  permanently.  Brother 
Gomer  and  other  missionaries  had  told  and  written  of  the 
degradation  of  Avomen  till  our  hearts  ached,  and  we  said 
"What  can  we  do?"  Little  girls  are  sold  as  Avives,  and 
Avhenever  they  are  claimed  by  the  purchaser  they  must  go, 
and  if  in  our  schools,  are  thus  lost  to  our  mission.  It  is  the 
la.AV  of  the  country,  and  Ave  are  compelled  to  submit.  By 
talcing  girls  into  the  mission,  this  selling  can  be  prevented, 
and  these  girls  can  be  taught  in  the  schools  Avith  the  other 
children,  and  out  of  school  hours  be  taught  by  the  missionary 
to  SCAV,  to  cook,  to  keep  house,  and  thus  after  a  Avhile  to  make 
homes  in  Africa.  This  matter  Avas  talked  over,  and  many 
prayers  offered  for  direction.  To  do  this  a  separate  house  and 
additional  missionaries  would  be  necessary. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  at  Westfield,  Illinois,  it  Avas 
decided  to  put  up  a  new  building,  to  be  called  the  "Mary 
Sowers  Home  for  Girls,''  and  to  raise  $2,000  for  the  purpose. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sage,  graduates  of  Union  Biblical  Seminary, 
with  experience  in  African  Avork  in  the  employ  of  the  Gen- 
eral Board,  Avere  appointed  to  go  to  Africa  to  build  the  house 
and  take  charge  of  it. 

30 


sri'l'LKMENT. 


oi 


Mrs.  Sage  has  had  some  experience  -with  the  training  of 
girls,  and  is  peculiarly  adapted  for  the  charge  of  the  Home. 

The  money  was  all  raised  at  the  Board  meeting  of  1888, 
and  the  Home  completed  -with  tlu^  exception  of  a  little  paint- 
ing. 

Our  leading  object  being  to  prepare  the  natives  to  evangel- 
ize their  own  i:»eople,  we  consider  this  project  of  vital  impor- 
tance as  an  agent  in  the  establishment  of  Christian  homes. 

With  the  additional  help  of  the  new  missionaries,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  West  are  able  to  give  some  time  to  teaching  in  the 
schools  with  the  most  gratifying  results. 


KEY.    W.    S.    SAGE. 

Beside  teaching,  ]\Ir.*West  is  superintendent  of  the  mission. 
Mrs.  West  has  charge  of  the  mission  house  and  teaches. 
Mr.  Sage  has  oversight  of  the  outside  work  and  itinerating. 
Mrs.  Sage  has  charge  of  the  girls'  home.     All  have  part  in 
the  reliirious  work  of  the  stations. 


32 


Sl'l'l'LE.MENT. 


Tlie  statistics  of  May,  1888,  are  as  follows :  Mission  sta- 
tions, 4 ;  appointments,  50 ;  organized  churches,  2  ;  seekers' 
classes,  25;  number  of  members,  37;  seekers,  578;  total,  615. 
Sabbath-schools,  4 ;  meml)ership,  180 ;  day  schools,  4 ;  pupils, 
132.  A  gain  over  last  year  of  2  j^reaching  places,  3 
classes,  48  members,  21  Sunday-school  scholars,  and  7  day 
scholars. 

GERMANY. 

>. 

Because  of  a  growing  feeling  among  those  having  the  Ger- 
man work  most  at  heart,  that  to  secure  better  results,  we  must 


MRS.    AV.    S.    SAGE. 

provide  a  permanent  place  of  worship  for  our  mission,  and 
receiving  encouragement  from  several  small  donations  toward 
that  object,  the  Board  of  Managers,  in  1887,  moA^ed  that  "con- 
tributions be  received,  and  that  as  soon  as  sufficient  funds  are 
in  the  treasury,  a  chapel  be  built  or  a  house  be  purcha^sed." 


tiUri'LEMKAT. 


At  the  Board  meeting  in  1888,  only  $500  having  been  re- 
ported for  this  object,  it  was  urged  that  more  vigorous  efforts 
be  made  to  raise  the  necessary  funds,  $3,000.00,  the  coming 
year  for  the  above-named  chaj^el. 

CHINESE   WORK. 

During  the  five  years  of  our  mission  work  in  Portland, 
Oregon,  great  j^rosperity  has  attended  it.  More  than  fifty  have 
professed  faith  in  Christ  and  are  living  exemplary  lives! 

As  we  had  hoped  from  the  beginning  to  be  able  to  extend 
our  Avork  into  China,  either  through  these  converts  or  by 
eventually  opening  a  mission  there;  and  as  the  "boys"  re- 
-  turning  to  China  are  beginning  to  feel  the  need  of  a  church- 
home,  and  as  leave  of  absence,  to  visit  his  native  land,  had 
been  granted  Moy  Ling ;  to  use  his  experience  and  knowledge, 
the  Board,  in  1888,  upon  the  urgent  recommendation  of  Mrs. 
Sickafoose,  who  was  at  the  meeting,  decided  to  open  a  mis- 
sion in  China,  and  to  send  out  Kev.  Sickafoose  with  Moy  Ling. 

They  were  appointed  to  locate  a  mission  if  it  be  deemed 
advisal^le  so  to  do 

SUMMARY. 

We  have  now,  in  1888,  in  all  our  missions,  seven  mission- 
aries, seven  native  missionaries,  five  day  schools  Avith  an 
attendance  of  192,  church  membership  of  706,  value  of  prop- 
erty, $26,000. 

HOME   WORK. 

Because  of  the  facts  that  but  a  small  proportion  of  the. 
women  of  the  Church  are  enlisted  in  the  Women's  Mission- 
ary Association,  and  that  upon  our  increase  of  membership 
we  must  depend  for  funds  to  extend  our  work,  the  Board 
authorized  the  Trustees  to  appoint  an  organizer.  On  August 
27th  they  appointed  Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister  for  this  work,  and 
Mrs.  L.  K.  Miller  assistant  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Evangel, 
to  take  charge  of  the  oflice  work. 

The  association  was  represented  in  the  General  Conference 
of  Missions,  held  in  London,  June  9th  to  19th,  1888,  by  Mrs. 
L.  K.  ^[iller  and  Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister. 


SUPPLEMENT.- 1 890. 


AFRICA. 


The  question  of  sending  out  teachers  for  our  school  in 
Africa  had  been  discussed  for  several  years,  but  not  until  the 
Board  meeting  of  1889  were  definite  steps  taken.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  West  had  done  what  they  could  to  carr}^  on  the  school 
work  themselves,  but  with  their  many  other  duties  it  became 
such  a  strain  on  their  strength  as  to  endanger  their  health 
permanently.  Some  of  the  young  people  were  more  advanced 
than  the  native  teachers  from  Sierre  Leone,  who  had  proved 
very  unsatisfactory. 

Miss  Frances  Williams,  who  all  her  life  had  wanted  to  go 
as  a  missionary  to  Africa,  was  appointed  at  the  Board  meet- 
ing, 1889.  Miss  Williams  spent  several  years  at  Otterbein 
University  in  special  study  and  two  years  in  successful  Bible 
work  in  the  Moody  Training  School  in  Chicago,  and  is  in 
every  way  fitted  for  the  work.  During  the  summer  Miss 
Ellen  Groenendyke  was  also  appointed.  Miss  Groenendyke 
studied  several  years  at  the  school  at  Harts ville,  Ind.,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  was  a  successful  school  teacher  in  the 
South.  She  is  a  good  organist  and  vocalist,  having  completed 
a  course  in  music.  They  sailed  from  New  York  via  Liver- 
pool, October  16,  1889,  and  arrived  November  12th  at  Free- 
town, West  Africa.  After  a  few  weeks  spent  in  Freetown, 
they  went  to  Rotufunk  and  soon  had  charge  of  the  schools. 
Mr.  West  wrote  of  them'  after  five  months'  residence  there  : 
"Our  new  teachers  are  making  themselves  very  much  at  home 


34 


SUPPLEMEiST. 


35 


here.     They  are  well  received  by  the  people,  and  give  strong 
promise  of  being  able  to  live  here  and  do  effective  work." 

A  commodious  native  house  was  built  at  Rotufunk  during 
the  year  1889  for  a  residence  for  the  mission  boys.  The 
native  school  building,  having  become  unfit  for  use,  was 
replaced  by  a  good  frame  structure  with  modern  conveniences 
and  a  special  fund  of  $2,000  was  raised  for  that  purpose.  This 
gives  us  at  Rotufunk,  our  principal  station,  all  the  buildings 
needed  for  years.  There  are  now  a  mission  residence,  chapel, 
girls'  home,  boys'  home,  and  school  building,  all  in  good 
repair. 

During  the  year  Revs.  Sage  and  West,  with  the  older  mis- 
sion boys,  made  an  extended  trip  interior  to  the  Mendi  coun- 
try. This  is  a  large  country  lying  east  of  the  Sherbro  and 
Timne  countries.  It  begins  about  ten  miles  east  of  Rotufunk 
and  extends  toward  the  interior  several  hundred  miles.  The 
Mendi  people  are  superior  to  most  of  the  other  tribes  about. 
They  show  more  intelligence,  manufacture  more  cloth,  and 
mine  and  work  the  iron  ore  which  is  found  in  great  abund- 
ance in  some  parts  of  their  country.  The  missionaries  were 
interior  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  Rotufunk. 
They  found  large  towns;  some  they  estimated  contained  six, 
nine,  and  twelve  thousand  inhabitants,  and  one  as  many  as 
forty  thousand.  The  people  received  them  cordially  when 
they  understood  their  purpose.  They  found  no  Christian 
missions,  but  evidences  of  superstition  everywhere.  Every 
town,  large  and  small,  had  its  devil  houses. 

Mr.  Sage  made  another  extended  trip  into  the  same  country 
in  March,  1890,  with  good  results,  people  begging  him  to  re- 
main and  repeat  his  message  to  them.  He  could  tell  it  but 
once,  then  pass  on.  At  the  Board  meeting,  1890,  the  early 
occupation  of  this  densely  populated  territory  was  looked 
upon  with  favor.     The  work  of  itinerating  has  been  greatly 


36 


SUPPLEMENT. 


SUPPLEMENT  o7 


blessed.     A  number  of  the  older  mission  boys  with  the  mis- 
sionaries do  this  work 

An  aid  society  composed  of  the  missionaries  and  native 
Christians  was  organized  in  1889,  and  had  in  its  treasury, 
1890,  $158.42  to  extend  the  work 

The  mission  boys  do  the  work  of  the  mission  largely,  and 
thus  support  themselves. 

A  visit  in  1889  of  Mrs.  Amanda  Smith,  the  noted  colored 
evangelist,  did  much  toward  breaking  up  the  popular  idea 
that  the  gospel  was  better  suited  to  the  white  man.  After  her 
visit,  which  was  accompanied  with  great  power,  it  was  said, 
"  The  word  the  white  people  tell  us,  now  the  same  word  the 
black  woman  tell  us." 

During  March,  1890,  Mrs.  Mary  Clement  Leavitt,  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  missionary,  visited 
Rotufunk,  gave  great  help  and  encouragement,  and  organized 
a  union. 

The  school  at  Bompeh  has  been  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son, daughter  of  Bishop  Crouther,  of  the  Niger  Mission, 
This  school  numbers  thirty.  When  Mrs.  Thompson  first  went 
to  Bompeh  she  said  she  did  not  wish  the  mission  to  furnish 
clothing  for  the  children  of  the  school.  To  the  people  she  said 
that  the  mission  was  not  to  clothe  their  children,  and  that  she 
would  not  have  naked  children  about  her,  but  that  they  must 
feed  and  clothe  their  own  children  and  send  them  to  school. 
At  first  they  thought  it  hard,  but  they  did  it,  and  the  plan  is 
working  well,  though  it  would  be  hard  to  find  another  who 
could  or  would  do  as  she  has  done.  A  class  of  seven  full 
church  members  -was  organized  December  22,  1889,  and  the 
general  outlook  for  the  place  is  exceedingly  favorable. 

Since  the  school  at  Palli  was  consolidated  with  the  others, 
Rev.  Johnson  has  given  his  whole  time  to  itinerating,  with 
excellent    results.      He    has   preached   at   fifty-five   different 


38 


SUPPLEMENT. 


SUPPLEMENT.  ?>'.♦ 

towns  and  visited  regularly  forty-eight  towns,  which  is  more 
than  three  men  working  in  the  same  field  had  done  before. 

GERMANY. 

P'or  years  very  little  success  attended  the  mission  in  Coburg. 
We  had  employed  a  man  in  connection  with  the  General 
Board ;  though  faithful,  only  part  of  his  services  were  given 
the  mission  of  the  W.  M.  A.  and  various  obstacles  arose.  The 
trustees  deeming  it  best,  officially  gave  back  the  station  to  the 
General  Board  in  the  spring  of  1889,  which  action  was  ap- 
proved by  the  Woman's  Board,  at  the  naeeting  in  Harrisburg, 
in  May,  1889.  Persons  best  acquainted  with  the  field  recom- 
mended that  a  mission  be  opened  in  Berlin.  Not  finding  a 
suitable  person,  one  thoroughly  acquainted  with  German,  and 
with  the  United  Brethren  Church  as  well,  an  evangelist,  and 
a  practiced  business  man,  it  was  decided  at  the  Board  meet- 
ing in  1890,  held  in  Summit  Street  Church,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
that  the  $2,300  gathered  for  a  chapel  in  Germany  be  kept  for 
that  purpose,  and  that  we  continue  to  keep  a  fund  for  the 
German  work,  and  that  this  fund  be  left  to  the  disposal  of  the 
trustees  as  to  where  it  shall  be  appropriated. 

CHINESE    SCHOOL. 

The  mission  work  in  Portland,  Oregon,  has  gone  on  with- 
out interruption.  The  attendance  has  diminished  somewhat 
because  of  the  decrease  in  the  number  of  Chinese  in  the  city. 
The  enrollment  for  1890  was  80,  with  average  attendance  of 
30;  number  of  communicants,  64. 

CHINA. 

The  visit  of  Mr.  Sickafoose  and  Moy  Ling  to  China  was 
deferred  one  year.  It  was  decided  at  the  meeting  of  1889  to 
send  missionaries  with  them  to  remain  with  the  mission 
when  located.     The  perfecting  of  plans  and  appointment  of 


40 


PUPPl.EMEXT. 


o      "2 


SUPPLEMENT.  4J^ 

missionaries  was  left  with  the  trustees.  Inquiry  was  made 
concerning  the  qualifications  of  a  lady  at  the  training  school 
in  Chicago.  A  reply  was  received  without  her  knowledge, 
giving  most  fiivorable  recommendations.  At  the  same  time  a 
letter  was  received  from  a  committee  of  Western  College 
students,  stating  they  desired  to  contribute  to  the  support  of 
one  of  the  graduates  of  the  college  in  a  foreign  mission  field, 
and  had  a  subscription  of  more  than  $400.  They  had  elected 
as  their  representative  the  same  lady  of  whom  we  had  in- 
quired. They  further  wished  to  know  on  what  conditions 
they  could  work  through  our  Association. 

We  answered  that  we  should  be  glad  to  have  them  work 
through  our  Association,  we  being  responsible  for  the  addi- 
tional amount  necessary,  and  they  being  responsible  for  the 
collection  of  the  money.  Then  we  wrote  asking  the  lady  of 
her  call  to  the  work,  her  willingness  to  go  for  our  Association, 
and  inquiring  about  company.  To  this  we  received  word, 
indicating  her  willingness  to  go,  either  alone  or  with  another 
lady.     She  wrote : 

"  I  am  sure  that  the  Lord  has  called  me  to  work  in  his  vine- 
yard wherever  he  may  appoint  my  lot.  My  work  among  the 
Chinese  here  has  quickened  a  desire  I  have  had  for  years 
to  help  on  his  work  in  Asia.  For  the  past  few  weeks  I  have 
been  led  to  pray  that  if  the  Lord  wanted  me  to  go  to  another 
land  than  this,  that  he  would  open  up  the  way  and  prepare 
the  heart  of  my  mother  to  let  me  go.  When  asked  if  I  would 
represent  Western  College  in  a  foreign  land,  the  way  seemed 
opening  and  I  answered,  The  Lord  willing,  I  will  go  wherever 
you  want  me.  I  am  very  glad  I  can  go  out  under  the  direc- 
tion of  your  Association." 

Considering  all  these  facts,  the  three  parties,  trustees, 
Western  College  students,  and  the  lady,  without  any  com- 
munication, all  led  to  the  same  end,  what  could  we  do  but 


42  SUPPLEMKNT. 

acknowledge  that  God  was  planning  for  us,  and  with  the 
acceptance  of  our  proposition  by  both  parties,  appoint  Miss 
Austie  Patterson  as  superintendent  of  our  mission  in  China? 

Miss  Lillie  Shaiiner,  under  appointment  to  Africa,  had  ex- 
pressed a  preference  for  China,  and  at  her  request  we  gave 
her  the  privilege  of  changing.  After  considering  the  matter 
prayerfully,  she  accepted  the  place  to  go  with  Miss  Patterson. 
Miss  Shaffner  had  almost  completed  a  course  of  study  in 
Lebanon  Valley  College.  She  had  a  varied  experience  in 
hospital  and  W.  C.  T.  U.  work  and  had  succeeded  well  in  or- 
ganizing in  our  Association 

With  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of  the  Church,  they  sailed 
with  Mr.  Sickafoose  and  Moy  Ling,  October  4,  1889,  and 
landed  at  Hong  Kong  October  olst.  The  ladies  remained 
there  a  few  weeks,  visiting  missions  and  making  the  acquaint- 
ance of  the  missionaries,  while  Mr.  Sickafoose  and  Moy  Ling 
went  to  Canton.  By  the  advice  of  missionaries  of  experience, 
it  was  decided  to  locate  in  the  city  of  Canton,  the  metropolis 
of  Southern  China.  The  protection  of  life  and  property,  and 
the  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of  the  language  afforded  here, 
make  it  especially  desirable. 

SUMMARY. 

We  have  now  m  ^ur  employ  ni  three  mission  fields  10 
American  missionaries,  an  increase  of  4 ;  18  native  helpers,  a 
gain  of  4 ;  a  membership  of  1,484,  a  gain  of  545,  with  prop- 
erty valued  at  $28,500. 

HOME    WORK. 

Each  year  has  added  to  the  number  of  workers  at  home, 
but  the  years  188«)  and  1890  will  be  memorable  for  the  increase 
of  numbers  and  interest  among  the  young  peoj^le.  The  sup- 
port of  the  four  new  missionaries  was  made  the  especial  work 
of  the  voung  people — societies  giving  a  pledge  of  one  or  more 


SIPPLEMENT.  io 

shares  of  $25  each.  A  large  number  of  young  people  at  home 
are  thus  holding  the  ropes  for  the  gifted,  devoted  girls,  who 
have  gone  into  the  pits  of 'sin  in  Africa  and  China  to  tell  the 
story  of  salvation  through  Jesus.  There  has  been  contributed 
by  the  women  and  children  of  our  church,  through  the  Asso- 
ciation since  the  organization  in  1875,  the  grand  sum  of 
$110,637.09.  How  marvelously  tlxe  Lord  has  blessed  us ;  to 
him  be  all  the  praise. 


SUPPLEMENT.-I893. 


AFRICA. 

At  the  time  of  the  Board  meeting  in  1890  the  missionaries 
had  special  services.  One  Avrote  :  ''  You  must  have  prayed  for 
us,  the  way  we  felt  over  here.  On  Pentecost  Sunday  we 
prayed  for  a  pentecost  indeed  in  our  little  church  here." 
All  who  have  read  the  Evangel  know  something  of  the 
remarkable  answer  to  the  prayer. 

On  account  of  the  ill  henlth  of  Mrs.  Sage,  she  and  her 
husband  returned  to  America  in  October,  1800. 

At  Rotufvmk  the  new  school  building  was  completed,  but 
there  was  some  delay  in  getting  it  seated.  Two  rooms,  how- 
ever, were  occupied  June  1. 

In  church  and  Sunday-school  work  there  has  been  a  decided 
advancement.  The  itinerating  work  has  had  some  draw- 
backs on  account  of  frequent  changes  in  workers. 

In  June,  1890,  Rotufunk  Aid  Society  employed  James  H. 

Parks  as  its  missionary,  and  chose  the  Masimera  country  as 

its  mission.     This  was  the  first  practical  work  of  our  mission 

in  self-extensi<.)n.     After  six  months'  work  Mr.  Parks  re[>orted 

forty-six  regular   appointments,  with  one  organized  seekers' 

class  of  forty   members.      Five   thousand   five  hundred   and 

eighty-one  had  heard  the  gos])el  for  the  first  time  through  the 

|)reaching  on  this  work.     The  society  raised  the  total  sum  of 

$232.53,  and  expended  on   this   mission   the   sum  of  $61.60, 

leaving   a   balance   in    the   treasury,   December   31.   1890,    of 

S170.93.     Such  missionary  work  done  by  the  native  church 

is  an  incentive. 

u 


SUPPLEMENT.  45 

We  secured  the  services  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Miller, 
students  in  Union  Biblical  Seminary,  to  reinforce  our  African 
mission.  They  arrived  at  Rotufunk  December  31,  1890.  and 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  1891,  took  up  their  residence  in 
the  Mary  Sowers  Girls'  Home,  and  entered  upon  their  work. 

Marietta  Hatfield,  M.D.,  was  appointed  medical  missionary 
to  Africa. 

Bishop  Kephart  made  an  otiieial  visit  to  Africa  and  Germany, 
and  held  a  conference  at  Rotufunk,  January  21  to  25,  1891. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  West  returned  to  America  this  year  for  a 
much  needed  rest.  Before  leaving,  Mr.  West  emploj'ed  for 
one  year  Alice  Harris,  M.D.,  a  well  educated  teacher  and 
physician  of  the  Wesleyan  Ghurch,  wdio  by  the  return  of  her 
comrades  from  the  field  was  left  alone  in  Freetown.  The 
trustees  considered  it  fortunate  that  help  at  hand  could  be 
secured  to  lighten  the  extra  burdens  of  those  left  in  the  field. 

During  the  summer.  Miss  Elma  Bittle,  of  Lewisburg,  Ohio, 
and  Miss  Ella  Schenck,  of  Lockington,  Ohio,  were  appointed 
to  accompany  Dr.  Hatfield.  These  three  well  qualified 
teachei's  sailed  from  New  York  Septeni])er  2;'),  1891,  and 
reached  Rotufunk  November  3. 

Because  of  the  continued  sickness  of  Rev.  Miller,  and  at 
the  unanimous  request  of  the  missionaries.  Miss  Williams 
was  given  the  superintendency. 

At  Bompeh  station  Mrs.  Thom})son  has  worked  hard,  and 
has  also  held  meetings  in  three  other  towns  near  by. 

In  1890  Chief  Gbannah  Will  Caulker  gave  to  the  mission 
a  fine  plat  of  ground  for  a  mission  residence.  The  work 
so  increased  that  it  became  necessary  to  employ  a  teacher  for 
the  school  in  order  that  Mrs.  Thompson  might  devote  her  full 
time  to  church  work.  In  April,  1892,  her  daughter,  Miss 
Florence  Thompson,  was  engaged  to  take  charge  of  the  school. 
She  also  held  Sunday  school  in  two  of  the  villages. 


46  SUPPLEMENT. 

The  people  at  Bompeh  have  been  doing  what  they  Cuuld  to 
help  themselves.  The  enemy  has  been  doing  his  utmost,  it 
seems,  to  test  the  strength  of  the  little  band  of  Christians 
there.  Bnt  the  conflicts  they  have  been  called  to  undergo 
seem  to  have  strengthened  the  faithful  few. 

They  have  built  a  little  barra  for  a  school-room,  and  begun 
building  a  stone  chapel,  for  which  purpose  they  had  $24 
collected.  When  completed  it  will  be  a  splendid  building  for 
the  purpose,  and  will  likely  stand  several  hundred  years  as  a 
monument  to  the  enterprise  and  devotion  of  Mrs.  Thompson. 
The  trustees  donated  a  Bible,  and  the  First  Church,.  Dayton, 
a  l)en,  to  this  chapel. 

On  Bompeh  circuit  Rev.  .Johnson  has  been  preaching 
regularly  at  sixty-two  towns,  besides  occasional  sermons  at 
five  other  places. 

At  Palli  the  mission  property  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  and  a  mission  house  and  chapel  combined. 
During  1891  the  congregation  so  increased  that  the  place  of 
worship  would  not  accommodate  the  people.  Rev.  Johnson 
and  his  people  went  to  work,  and  before  the  missionaries  at 
Rotufunk  knew  anything  of  their  plans,  had  a  chapel  begun 
and  a  number  of  pounds  collected  toward  its  erection. 

During  1892  Rev.  Johnson's  health  was  very  poor,  but  he 
kept  up  his  work  in  all  the  more  important  places.  The 
chapel,'  called  "Keister  Chapel,"  was  completed,  and  April 
9,  1893,  after  liquidating  a  debt  of  £21,  it  was  formally 
dedicated.  Cost  of  chapel,  £62. 10s.  A  Bible  and  bell  for 
this  chapel  also  were  furnished  by  the  same  parties  as  at 
Bompeh. 

The  school  work  at  Rotufunk  has  been  very  materially 
aided  by  apparatus  sent,  and  the  pupils  take  a  keen  interest 
in  the  telescope,  microscope,  skeleton,  etc. 

It  had  long  seemed  marvelous  to  our  friends  on  the  coast 


sr  I'l'KEMENT.  47 

and  ill  America,  that  in  the  tliirt3--sc'\eii  years  of  uiir  African 
mission,  death  had  not  entered  our  ranks.  But  the  year  1892 
marked  a  new  era  in  our  history.  Frances  Williams  died, 
July  19,  of  malignant  malarial  fever,  and  Elma  Bittle  fol- 
lowed her,  August  7,  from  nervous  shock,  and  now  we  have 
two  graves  in  Africa. 

We  had  come  to  think  our  missionaries  hedged  in  from 
death,  as  they  had  gone  and  come  again  so  often;  and  with 
the  cheerful,  liopeful  letters  always  speaking  of  good  health, 
the  cable  messages  were  a  great  shock,  and  for  a  little  time  we 
were  silent  in  the  presence  of  this  providence.  Then  we 
remembered  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  had  promoted  the  reapers, 
and  that  he  could  fill  the  ranks,  and  would  out  of  this,  to  us 
a  great  loss,  bring  gain  and  greater  glory  to  his  name. 

These  two  deaths  and  the  return  to  America  of  Rev.  .Jacob 
Miller  and  wife  the  same  fall,  owing  to  the  illness  of  Mrs. 
Miller,  together  with  the  sickness  of  the  other  missionaries, 
greatly  broke  into  all  the  work  of  the  mission  and  almost 
paralyzed  that  of  some  departments. 

The  ranks  were  strengthened  by  the  return  to  Africa  of 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  West,  accompanied  by  Rev.  and  Mrs.  I.  N. 
Cain,  graduates  of  Western  College,  who  had  been  appointed 
at  the  Board  meeting,  and  Miss  Lydia  Thomas,  appointed  in 
the  fall.  These  five  sailed  from  New  Y(u-k  October  1.  1892, 
and  arrived  at  Rotufunk  November  13.  School  was  soon 
reojiened  and  all  settled  down  to  earnest  work,  Rev.  West  as 
general  superintendent.  Dr.  Hatfield  as  physician,  Miss  Groen- 
endyke  as  superintendent  of  school,  Miss  Schenck  and 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Cain  as  teachers.  Mrs.  West  in  charge  of  the 
Girls"  Home,  and  Miss  Thomas  in  the  Mission  House.  Miss 
Groenendyke  returned  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1893  on 
vacation.  Because  of  the  depletion  of  the  force,  Rev.  West 
Imd  to  delav  going  to  the  Meiidi  eountrv. 


48  SUPPLEMENT. 

During  1893  Otterbein  University  presented  the  mission  at 
Rotufunk  with  a  fine  lot  of  band  instruments;  the  Union 
Biblical  Seminary  donated  blacksmith  and  farming  tools,  and 
Rev.  Cain  began  the  experiment  of  making  brick  there. 

Summary. 

We  have  in  Africa,  in  1893,  Bompeh  Mission,  including 
the  central  station  at  Rotufunk,  Bompeh  station  and  circuit, 
and  Masimera  mission,  projected  and  supported  by  the 
workers  at  Rotufunk.  Fields,  4;  appointments,  151;  organ- 
ized classes,  3;  Sundav  schools,  6;  i^upils,  260;  day  schools, 
2;  pupils,  145;  native  itinerants  and  helpers,  20;  American 
missionaries,  7;  ordained  preachers,  5;  American  houses,  4; 
native  houses,  5. 

GEEMANY. 

At  the  Board  meeting  of  1891,  it  was  decided  to  secure,  if 
possible,  the  sfervices  of  Mrs.  Justina  Lorenz  Stevens  to  open 
work  in  Berlin.  Mrs.  Stevens  had  other  plans,  and  the  recom- 
mendations were  not  carried  out.  At  the  Board  meeting  of 
1892  it  was  decided  that  the  work  must  be  carried  on  through 
the  Parent  Board.  The  trustees  were  therefore  authorized  to 
otter  to  that  Board  the  money  in  hand  for  building  a  chapel  in 
Weimar,  and  to  appropriate  $200  for  this  year  for  the  supj)ort 
of  the  pastor.     The  offer  was  accepted. 

CHINESE    SCHOOL. 

The  Chinese  Mission,  at  Portland,  Oregon,  was  visited  in 
the  fall  of  1890  by  the  corresponding  secretary,  Mrs.  L.  R. 
Keister.  In  July,  1891,  Rev.  George  Sickafoose  resigned  his 
position  in  the  school  to  enter  the  active  ministr3\  Mrs. 
Sickafoose  and  Moy  Ling  continued  the  school.  Mrs.  Sicka- 
foose, who  had  been  superintendent  for  ten  _years,  was  reelected 
for  one  year;  but  her  health,  which  had  long  been  poor, 
steadily  declined,  and  she   offered   her   resignation,   to  take 


sr  PIM.KMEXT.  49 

ellt'ct  October  1,  ISDo.  It  wa.s  accepted,  and  ii{»(»i  veiy  high 
recommendations,  Mrs.  INIary  E.  Henkle,  of  Philomath,  Ore- 
gon, was  appointed  to  the  vacancy,  with  Kev.  Moy  I^ing 
continned  as  interpreter  and  assistant.  Mrs.  Ilenkle  entered 
upon  her  work  at  once,  and  reported  the  l)oys  well  contented 
and  all  doing  good  work.     Knrolhnent,  sixty. 

CHINA. 

Miss  Shaffner  returned  to  America  in  October,  ISOO,  on 
account  of  ill  health.  Rev.  Moy  Ling  remained  a  few  months 
longer  and  then  Miss  Patterst)n  was  alone.  With  a  courage 
and  heroism  few  possess,  horn  of  her  dee})  conviction  of  God's 
call  to  her  to  work  in  thnt  land,  she  clicerfully  gave  hers(>lf  to 
the  work  l^efore  her.  She  l)egan  at  once  acquiring  the  lan- 
guage, and  in  addition  su])erintendcd  a  Sunday  school  among 
the  English  and  American  children  of  commercial  residents 
who  were  hitherto  neglected.  She  also  visited  weekly  two 
schools  for  girls  taught  by  native  Christian  women  educated 
in  other  missions,  one  in  Canton  and  one  on  Honan.  The 
interest  in  her  Sabbath  school  greatly  exceeded  her  expecta- 
tions. Miss  Patterson  soon  mastered  the  language  sufficiently 
to  do  house-to-house  visitation,  with  the  aid  of  a  Bible 
woman.  Dr.  and  IMi's.  Kerr,  of  the  Presbyterian  mission, 
invited  her  to  board  Avith  them,  which  she  gladly  accej)ted, 
where  she  was  among  friends  and  at  home. 

In  181)1  the  Pnanl  secured  the  services  of  Dr.  S.  Lovina 
Halverson  as  medical  ndssionary.  She  sailed  from  San  Fraii- 
cisco  Novemher  28,  and  arrived  at  Canton  December  24,  and 
entered  at  once  upon  the  study  of  tlie  language. 

Miss  Patterson  rented  a  doul>le  native  house,  making  some 
changes  for  comfort  and  setting  apart  a  room  for  a  chai»el.  The 
location  was  in  a  part  of  the  city  where  no  mission  work  was 
done  and  where  there  was  no  medical  disi)ensary. 


50  SUPPLEMEXT. 

In  May,  1892,  they  went,  on  invitation,  to  the  Presbyterian 
Hospital  to  occnpy  the  rooms  made  vacant  by  the  return  to 
America  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Kerr.  Dr.  Halverson  tlius  had  a 
fine  opportunity  to  obtain  valuable  knowledge  of  the  special 
diseases  of  the  Chinese,  to  observe  and  assist  at  surgical 
operations,  as  well  as  to  be  helpful  to  the  i^hysicians  in  the 
hospital,  and  care  for  sick  missionaries.  Here  they  pursued 
their  study  and  superintended  their  schools  as  before,  with 
cheerful  and  good  sanitary  surroundings. 

•  At  the  solicitation  of  Miss  Patterson  and  Dr.  Halverson, 
Dr.  Regina  Bigler  was  appointed  to  China  in  1S92.  She  sailed 
from  San  Francisco  November  16,  and  reached  Canton  in 
December,  and  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  language, 
giving  her  strength  to  it. 

Dr.  Halverson,  after  a  year  of  study,  had  sufficient  com- 
inand  of  the  language  to  Ijegin  dispensary  work  and  give 
medical  attendance.  She  secured  the  services  of  a  Chinese 
Avoman  who  had  spent  five  years  at  the  hospital  ( three  years 
as  a  student  and  two  as  medical  assistant  ),  and  fitted  also  to 
do  the  work  of  a  Bible  Avoman. 

A  few  months  after  Dr.  Halverson  reached  China,  she  and 
Miss  Patterson  saw  a  boatman  in  front  of  their  door  pre- 
paring to  drown  his  little  son,  aged  thirteen,  for  a  trifling 
theft.  They  pleaded  for  his  life.  The  father  replied :  "  I 
never  want  to  see  him  again.  If  you  want  him,  you  can  have 
him !  "  The  girls  took  the  forsaken  boy,  the  father  giving  a 
paper  transferring  to  them  the  right  to  him.  Shortly  after 
this,  Dr.  Halverson  adopted  him.  His  name  is  A  Kam.  He 
has  become  very  dear  to  her,  and  has  been  placed  in  a  good 
boys'  school  at  Fa  Ti.  Dr.  Halverson  insuring  his  good 
behavior.  The  missionaries  have  great  hopes  for  his  future 
usefulness. 

Miss  Patterson  has,  to  date,  1898.  three  schools  taught  by 


SUI'PI.K.ME.NT.  51 

native  Christian  women,  with  an  enrollment  of  seventy-two. 
These  she  visits  every  week,  examining  tlie  work  done,  talk- 
ing with  them,  and  making  visits  in  the  neighhorhood  among 
the  families  of  the  children  in  the  scluxtls,  speaking  to  them 
of  the  -'doctrine,'"  as  the  gospel  truth  is  called  hy  them.  At 
two  of  the  schools  Sahbath  services  are  held.  This  personal 
honse-to-house  evangelistic  work  is  a  great  power  that  will 
win  souls. 

When  Dr.  Bigler  went  out,  the  plan  was  to  establish  a  home 
for  children  at  Macao,  a  healthful  seacoast  city,  but  finding 
this  impracticable,  they  decided  to  have  all  at  Canton,  where 
there  is  great  need  of  such  work  as  we  propose  to  do.  Our 
missionaries,  acting  upon  their  best  judgment  and  the  advice 
of  friends  of  large  experience,  propose  to  buy  ground  enough 
in  Canton  to  contain  all  the  buildings  that  will  probably  be 
needed  in  the  establishment  of  a  mission,  and  to  build  first  a 
home  foi-  the  missionaries,  with  a  small  annex  for  a  children's 
home. 

Not  finding  just  the  location  desired,  or  else  meeting 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  purchase,  in  the  fall  of  1893,  Miss 
Patterson  rented,  for  six  months,  a  large  house  on  Jlcinan, 
whither  they  removed  October  1. 

Dr.  Halverson  has  o])ened  two  disi)ensaries,  one  on  Honan. 
and  one  in  W'ampo.  about  ten  miles  distant,  where  she  expects 
to  oj)en  a  school  with  a  native  teacher,  and  go  down  once  a 
week  for  dispensary  work,  and  at  that  time  dismiss  the  school 
and  have  the  teacher  talk  of  Christ  to  tlu'  women  as  they 
wait  their  turn. 

In  the  spring  of  189o  the  Board  ap})ointed  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
E.  E.  Fix,  graduates  of  Western  College  and  Union  Bil)li(al 
Seminary,  to  China,  who  sailed  from  San  Francisco  October 
10,  1893,  and  reached  Canton  Xovember  8,  to  set  up  a  Cbiis- 
tian  home,  and,  we  trust,  soon  to  form  a  church. 


52  SUPPLEMENT. 

SumTnary. 

We  have  in-  Cliina  in  1893,  American  missionaries  5, — 3 
evangelists  and  2  medical;  native  5, — 3  teaeliers  and  '2  Hilile 
women;  day  schools,  3;  pupils,  72;  Sahbath  schools,  2;  dis- 
pensaries, 2. 

HOME    WORK. 

Among  the  workers  at  home  there  is  a  growing  interest  and 
enthusiasm,  and  a  gradual  increase  in  members  and  contribu- 
tions. From  the  fall  of  1890  to  the  spring  of  1891,  the  corre- 
sponding secretary  and  general  organizer,  Mrs.  L.  R.  Keistcr, 
was  continuously  traveling  in  the  interests  of  the  work  in  the 
middle  West  and  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  encouraging  the  Locals 
and  Branches  organized,  and  organizing  new  ones,  Ix'sides  vi.s- 
iting  our  mission  school  at  Porthmd,  Oregon. 

The  visits  of  our  returned  missionaries.  Rev.  and  Mi-s.  West 
and  Mrs.  Sage,  and  the  outgoing  missionaries,  both  to  Africa 
and  China,  have  given  new  life  to  our  work  East  and  West, 
and  have  stirred  the  people  as  nothing  else  could  do. 

The  Association  has  received  generous  gifts  of  money,  land, 
and  valued  articles  from  time  to  time. 

Through  the  advice  of  Bishop  Ilott,  the  Board  at  Decatur, 
Illinois,  May,  1891,  decided,  as  s})ecial  home  work,  to  help  the 
Oregon  Conference  to  church  property  in  Portland,  Oregon, 
and  agreed  to  raise  $;>,000  for  that  purpose,  and  to  contribute 
to  pastor's  salary  for  five  years,  Oregon  Conference  to  appoint 
the  pastor  and  erect  the  building.  The  Conference  appointed 
a  committee  to  locate  the  mission.  November  13  an  organi- 
zation was  eft'ected  with  twenty-six  members.  A  hall  was 
rented  and  services  held.  R<nne  time  later  a  lot  was  secured, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1892  the  Avork  of  building  a  church  whs 
begun.     The  location  is  considenMl  a  choice  one. 


sriM'I.KMEXT.  Oo 

In  1890  Mvs.  Bertha  (u'rlaugli  was  appointed  seciX'tai'y  nf 
tlie  Teachers'  Fund.  Her  lioalth  tailing,  she  resigned  in  IM)2, 
and  Miss  Marie  Shank  was  appointed  to  the  vacancy. 

Miss  Groenendyke  returned  to  America,  and  was  present 
at  tlie  Board  meeting  in  May,  181)3.  She  was  appointed 
Held  worker  at  home  for  the  year,  and  after  a  j)eriod  of  rest, 
started  on  her  work  th(>  hist  of  .Tuly,  and  continued  in  it 
until  Christmas,  visiting  camps  and  various  Locals  in  Penn- 
sylvania, then  journeying  westward,  stirring  u|)  Branches, 
}iutting  new  vigor  into  almost  dying  Locals,  and  oi'gani/.ing 
new  ones,  reaching  as  far  as  the  West  Nebraska  ("onference. 
She  met  with  success  I'ar  Ix'Vond  the  exi)ectation  of  the 
l)oard. 

The  Association  sustained  a  great  loss,  early  in  lS9o,  in  the 
resignation  of  Mrs.  L.  R.  Keister,  who  had  .so  long  and  al)ly 
]ierfornied  the  duties  of  corresponding  seeretai'v  and  general 
organizer,  and  who  was  largely  instrumental  in  pi'ojeeting 
the  Evangel.  Juiui  14  she  was  married  to  Mr.  William  P. 
Harford.  Slie  was  continued  as  trustee  ami  Evangel  corre- 
spondent. 

In  May,  1S<);],  :\[rs.  L.  K.  Miller,  associate  editor  of  the 
Evangel,  was  appointed  editor  and  manager  of  the  same;  and 
]\Irs.  B.  F.  Witt,  a  trustee,  was  a})pointc(l  corresponding  and 
recording  secretary. 

'I'he  General  Conference  of  May,  180H,  granted  the  re<|nest 
of  the  Association,  made  through  the  secretary,  for  a  day.  and 
the  last  Sabbath  of  September  was  set  apart  as  "  Woman's 
Hay." 

EVANGEL. 

The  circulation  of  the  Evangel  has  steadily  increased  until 
it  has  reached  5.0(H).  In  l)ecemb(M-.  1892.  the  Evangel  was 
issued  with  a  cover. 


ot 


.SUPPLEMENT. 


GENERAL    SUMMARY. 


Since  our  organization  we  have  gathered  the  sum  of  $161,- 
224.52.  We  have  in  1893— Branches,  42 ;  Locals,  435 ;  mem- 
bership, 7,264 ;  Young  People's  Bands,  37 ;  membership,  847 ; 
Children's  Bands,  86 ;  membership,  2,642 ;  total  membership, 
10,753.  We  have  in  1893,  in  our  mission  fields,  American 
missionaries,  14:  native  itinerants  and  missionaries,  26; 
<n-dained  preachers,  8;  medical  missionaries,  3;  organized 
churches,  5 ;  full  members,  136 ;  appointments,  154 ;  members 
and  seekers,  1,679 ;  Sa^bbath  schools,  8 ;  attendance,  345 ;  day 
schools,  9 ;  pupils,  262 ;  valuation  of  propert.v,  $38,000. 

Mrs.  Benj.  Marot, 
Mrs.  L.  K.  Miller, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Witt, 
Publishing  Committee. 


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WOMAN'S  EVANGEL. 

A  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE, 

PrSLISHED   BY   THE 

WOMAN'S   niSSIONARY  ASSOCIATION  OF  THE 
UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


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56 


